TikTok is never short of shocking revelations, but this time, it’s personal—and maybe even a little gross. Jenna Jones (@_jennasayquoi) recently dropped a historical bombshell that has family heirlooms and dinner table traditions in a full identity crisis. The video, which has amassed thousands of views and sparked a frenzy of comments, suggests that those elegant, curvy vessels we’ve been lovingly pouring gravy out of might actually be bourdaloues—portable chamber pots for women in the 18th and 19th centuries. Yes, you read that right.
Gravy or… Something Else Entirely?
For the uninitiated, bourdaloues were dainty, discreet porcelain pots designed for women to use when nature called and privacy was a luxury. These pots were stylish enough to be carried in public or placed discreetly in sitting rooms. However, fast forward a couple of centuries, and their petite, refined shapes are being mistaken for—you guessed it—gravy boats.
Jenna’s TikTok video has been lighting up the internet with a mix of hilarity and horror. “Even the thrifty antiquers may fall victim to confusing the gravy boat and the bourdaloue,” she says in the video. The comments section quickly became a therapy session for people questioning their life choices. One user confessed, “So. Today I learned my grandmothers ‘gravy boat’ we used every Thanksgiving was IN FACT not a gravy boat.” Another wrote, “And that’s why you can’t eat at everybody’s house.”
How Did This Happen?
The mix-up isn’t as strange as it seems. Bourdaloues were made from porcelain or fine ceramic, often with floral patterns or gilded edges, just like the gravy boats of the Victorian era. Their similar shapes and sizes make it easy to see how one could be mistaken for the other—especially when history is lost to time.
But let’s not point fingers at Grandma just yet. Many families inherit these items with no idea of their true purpose. After all, who’s going to guess that the elegant little boat isn’t meant for gravy but for…well, more personal business?
What Do You Do Now?
First, take a deep breath. If you’re feeling brave, it might be time to dig out that “gravy boat” from the china cabinet and do a little research. Look for telltale signs like a wide opening and, in some cases, a handle designed for easy carrying. If you’re still unsure, a quick Google search or a consultation with an antiques expert should clear things up.
Whether your heirloom turns out to be a bourdaloue or a bona fide gravy boat, this discovery has given us all a reason to chuckle (and inspect our family china a little closer). And if it is a chamber pot? Well, that’s one heck of a conversation starter for your next holiday dinner.
