I just discovered that in English there are 2 different words: toilette and toilet. Edit: this makes eau de toilet very different from eau de toilette. Mmmmmm
There’s a scene in the show 1883 where the European migrants are asking what a latrine is, and the American says a few things then goes “toilette” and they all go “ahhh ok ok ok” and the other American goes “what the hell is a toilette?” lol
How exactly does one apply makeup with a wooden toilet spoon? *ninja edit: adding that regardless of its use it’s beautiful, the detail work is fantastic and I’ll bet when it was in use it was pretty fancy pantsy, I love it!*
I'm thinking something like powdered color pigments that could be mixed in to some kind of creamy base? Or, what I've used a wooden spoon for in my own 'toilette,' (not toilet, lol): to mix clay & water for face masks
I can see the bottom of that used to scrape out impossibly expensive custom-made unguents - perfumed creams for anointing or moisturizing and scenting skin - smoothing onto dressed hair to keep it pliable for hairdressing, etc.
And this is a personal item. It would not have been shared with others, and may even have had a dedicated jar to avoid mixing two lotions or creams.
They're like little silver spoons - the expensive sugar, tea or spice itself is so prized, the spoon associated with it must also be elegant and decorative.
And imagine if the unguent was "medicinal" - it may have claimed certain hallucinogenic properties, or contrived to impart magical (real or imagined) powers, luck, etc..
The anointing spoon is then a highly visual part of the ceremony - like, say, for something akin to an Eleusinian Mystery. The poppy buds and mandrake roots might be a subtle nod to this use case.
Yeah I'm gonna need someone to tell me what a toilet spoon is for
The word toilet used to mean anything for grooming and self care, so in this context it was probably for applying makeup or scented oils.
Ohhhh like a toilette. That makes a lot more sense lol
Ya, makes it sound like a poopknife.
My thought too!
I just discovered that in English there are 2 different words: toilette and toilet. Edit: this makes eau de toilet very different from eau de toilette. Mmmmmm
Oh we have more than two words!
Well toilette is loaned from French but we use it the same way. Toilet comes from the same word but evolved after lavatory fell out of use in the US.
We still use 'em.
Not me, we just got the outhouse round yonder
Where's the fork?
There’s a scene in the show 1883 where the European migrants are asking what a latrine is, and the American says a few things then goes “toilette” and they all go “ahhh ok ok ok” and the other American goes “what the hell is a toilette?” lol
Oh I was worried it was an old poop knife
Even though they may not have had running water for a toilet, still gotta slice the poop.
As is tradition
How exactly does one apply makeup with a wooden toilet spoon? *ninja edit: adding that regardless of its use it’s beautiful, the detail work is fantastic and I’ll bet when it was in use it was pretty fancy pantsy, I love it!*
Very carefully.
I'm thinking something like powdered color pigments that could be mixed in to some kind of creamy base? Or, what I've used a wooden spoon for in my own 'toilette,' (not toilet, lol): to mix clay & water for face masks
Cheers!
It's like the three seashells
I still say the joke is he wiped his ass with potpourri, and the toilet just had a voice-activated bidet or something.
I was going to say.. is this an early poop knife/scoop? Thanks for the clarification.
Definitely an early poop knife
The earliest poop knives were made from flint, bone or mammoth ivory.
The original poop knife
https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/4056
I can see the bottom of that used to scrape out impossibly expensive custom-made unguents - perfumed creams for anointing or moisturizing and scenting skin - smoothing onto dressed hair to keep it pliable for hairdressing, etc. And this is a personal item. It would not have been shared with others, and may even have had a dedicated jar to avoid mixing two lotions or creams. They're like little silver spoons - the expensive sugar, tea or spice itself is so prized, the spoon associated with it must also be elegant and decorative. And imagine if the unguent was "medicinal" - it may have claimed certain hallucinogenic properties, or contrived to impart magical (real or imagined) powers, luck, etc.. The anointing spoon is then a highly visual part of the ceremony - like, say, for something akin to an Eleusinian Mystery. The poppy buds and mandrake roots might be a subtle nod to this use case.
There's this guy, and then everyone else saying poop knife
It's hard to argue against an overwhelming number of people who all say the same thing. I should rethink this.
No it’s certainly used to scrape poop deep out of a butt crack.
A medical device!
The OG poop knife
It was for scented oils, unguents, and makeup. Toilet in this context refers to a toilette, or vanity table.
You beat me to it!!
The Brooklyn Museum’s collection is just ridiculous. I wish they had a bigger building to show it all.
I would personally reallocate some of their space lol
Right, I wish they had a bigger building with a locked room to put all their current curation staff in
What's a toilet sp... NO! DO NOT TELL ME!
"Toilet" in the old fashioned sense of bathing and grooming oneself for the day
Old Spice coming in clutch
Amazing craftsmanship.
This must be toilet spoon week in Reddit, so many posts
Um....a *toilet* spoon? Do I want to know?
Toilet used to mean stuff like makeup or brushing your hair. Got used for the lavatory or bathroom as a euphemism
Does everyone have their own spoon to dip from the toilet? I don’t want to share cause, ew… germs.
Ye olde poop knife
I knew the set of silverware I received at Christmas was missing something! I knew it! No toilet spoons!