Museum of Chamber Pots and Historical Toilets

The Museum of Historical Chamber Pots and Toilets in Prague offers an extraordinary journey through the evolution of personal hygiene items, with a unique collection ranging from the 15th century to the present day. Originally located in the fortress of Třebotov and later transferred to Prague, the museum houses around 2,000 pieces, including chamber pots, ceramic toilets, toilet chairs, and other curious objects. The museum was born out of the Sedlácková family’s passion for these unusual objects. The initial idea came almost as a joke when Tereza Sedlácková’s mother gave her husband a chamber pot for Christmas, sparking a collection that quickly grew to include pieces of great historical and artistic value. Over time, this collection became so vast and interesting that the family decided to share it with the public, creating a permanent exhibition. One of the distinctive features of the museum is its wide range of chamber pots, some of which belonged to famous historical figures such as Napoleon Bonaparte and President Abraham Lincoln. These objects not only tell the story of personal hygiene but also offer a fascinating glimpse into the habits and daily life of important historical figures. For example, Napoleon’s chamber pot is one of the most prized pieces in the collection, purchased at auction in London and featuring a design that included a laurel wreath, a symbol of victory, which unfortunately never made it to St. Helena due to British censorship. The museum not only displays chamber pots but also includes a wide range of other objects related to personal hygiene and public health. Among these are chemical toilets, travel cases for toilets, and even traps for baroque fleas. Each object is accompanied by detailed explanations that illustrate its history and use, offering an educational as well as curious context. The lower floor of the museum is dedicated to chamber pots, with models ranging from simple clay pots from the 15th century, purchased from a Dutch collector, to elaborate porcelain and silver pieces from the 17th and 18th centuries. Among the most interesting stories are those of the “bordelu” chamber pots, used by women during religious functions or court ceremonies in the time of Louis XIV, when it was forbidden to leave to attend to physiological needs. Another section of the museum explores the evolution of actual toilets. On the upper floor, visitors can see various toilet models, from early versions without water supply to American chemical toilets, which used chemical mixtures like chlorine to manage waste in the absence of water. There is also a collection of chains and flush handles, objects that tell the technological evolution and design of toilets. A particularly interesting piece is a toilet from a demolished building in Prague, which was saved and transferred by the owners to their new apartment. This object tells not only the history of hygiene but also a piece of Prague’s urban history, connecting to the city’s architectural transformations.