Spittoon

This is an indoor sanitary vessel into which people spit their phlegm or saliva, also called a spit pot (唾壺), saliva and phlegm pot (唾痰壺), spit bowl (唾盂), phlegm bowl (痰盂), or phlegm jar. In a traditional house where sanitary facilities such as the toilet are separately located outdoors, a spittoon was an indoor necessity, especially for the elderly with restricted mobility. It was widely used since hacking cough was a common disease among the elderly. Spittoons varied in shape depending on the material, and are generally designed with a wide mouth and bottom, with a slim waist for an easy grip. Spittoons were made from various materials, generally brass or ceramics. The spittoon shown here is made of brass – a vase-like vessel with a long neck and a bowl with a lid attached to the top. The lidded bowl has a narrow bottom and a wide mouth, and is fit into the neck of the vase-like vessel. The center of the lid is fit with a knob, and a low foot is attached to the bottom.