spittoon

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Chicago courtroom circa 1910
American spittoon (19th century)

A spittoon is a piece of furniture that is designed to be spit (spit) into it. It is particularly used by tobacco growers . They used to be found in dental practices as well. Today so-called cuspidors are used for this purpose , where a basin with a drain is coupled with a water fountain.

Spittoons have long been used in clinics to treat lung diseases such as: B. used tuberculosis .

In the present day, spittoons are mostly only used for food tasting , especially for wine tasting . Sometimes they can also be found in fitness studios next to drinking water containers.

The era of public spittoons in the United States

In the US in the late 19th century, spittoons were a common item in many places (such as saloons , hotels, shops, banks, passenger coaches) where large numbers of people, and especially adult men, who chewed tobacco frequently would gather. The use of spittoons at the time was viewed as an advance in manners and health care. They were set up to curb the spitting on floors, streets and sidewalks that was common up until then. Laws have been passed in many cities banning spitting in public except in spittoons.

A red sheet metal spittoon as an artistic trademark - Richard Caton Woodville : The Sailor's Wedding , 1852, Walters Art Museum

The spittoons at that time were mostly made of brass . But simple sheet metal spittoons were also used. On the other hand, valuable handicraft spittoons were made from glass, ceramic or porcelain . They usually had a flat floor, which was sometimes weighted down to avoid tipping over. They usually had a curved opening to prevent spilling. Some also had lids, but mostly they were open at the top. There were variants of spittoons with closable holes at the bottom to aid emptying and cleaning.

To prevent the spread of disease, public spittoons were filled with antiseptic solutions. At the beginning of the 20th century, doctors urged tuberculosis patients to use their own pocket spittoons. These were cans with narrow slits that you could always carry with you. Another form is the Blue Heinrich .

After the great flu epidemic of 1918, the use of spittoons for hygiene and etiquette reasons declined. The younger generation was increasingly chewing gum instead of tobacco, which did not require constant spitting. In addition, cigarettes were seen as more hygienic than saliva-producing chewing tobacco. With the end of World War II , almost all brass spittoons disappeared from the public.

In the mid-19th century , the American painter Richard Caton Woodville had a red tin spittoon appear again and again in his genre scenes, for example in the pictures The Card Players (1847), Politics in an Oyster House (1848), Waiting for the Stage (1851) and The Sailor's Wedding (1852). He became a trademark of his painting.

Spittoons in Chinese society

During the Qing Dynasty in China , gold spittoons were among the numerous objects displayed in front of the emperor at major ceremonies.

After the communist revolution in 1949, spittoons were placed in almost all public places and were also common in private households. This was a big step towards better hygiene and replaced the previously common spitting on the floor. The spittoons in China were usually made of porcelain with rich decorations in typical Chinese art style on the outside. Spittoons were also used by politicians in the exercise of public office, which was repeatedly ridiculed by the international media. Also in response, the public spittoons in China disappeared in the late 1980s.

Web links

Commons : Spittoons  - collection of images, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: Spittnapf  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. Lisa Maria Strong: Sentimental Journey. The Art of Alfred Jacob Miller . Amon Carter Museum of Western Art, Joslyn Art Museum, Fort Worth / Texas 2008, ISBN 978-0-8836-0105-1 , p. 204