commodious...

A friend has an elderly mother-in-law coming to stay and is worried that the toilets in her house are to low for her to get up from. This set me to thinking about an old fashioned commode.

Originally, in French furniture, a commode introduced about 1700 meant a low cabinet, or chest of drawers at the height of the dado rail (à hauteur d'appui).In the English-speaking world, commode passed into London cabinet-makers' parlance by the mid-eighteenth century, to describe chests of drawers with gracefully curved fronts, and sometimes with shaped sides as well, perceived as being in the "French" taste.
From the 19th century the term "commode" is very frequently used for a chair, often on wheels, enclosing a chamber pot - as such is used in hospitals or in the homes of the elderly and immobile. Look at this marvelous 'throne' >>>>

A close stool  (left) used from at least the sixteenth century until the introduction of indoor plumbing, was an enclosed cabinet or box at sitting height with an opening in the top. The 'potty' fitted under the round opening and that could be disguised with a cushion.






The modern day version is a LOT less attractive than in the old days ! There are also devices to fit op top of the toilet bowl to raise the level of the derriere :~)