Title
RX Martini Mixer “Oh, Nurse” Urinal-Style Ceramic Jug
Author
DeForest of California
Image
Description
A mid-20th-century DeForest of California ceramic jug molded unmistakably in the shape of a hospital urinal but humorously repurposed as a “RX Martini Mixer.” The piece carries a spoof prescription label reading “Oh, Nurse,” complete with graduated ounce markings from 4 to 32 ounces—exactly like a clinical urine bottle. Its glossy white glaze, anatomical curve, and side handle mimic actual medical urinals used in hospitals and doctors’ offices of the 1940s–1950s, making this both a bar gag and a piece of medical satire.
The corked opening, meant for pouring cocktails, adds to the visual pun: a prescription for “liquid therapy.”
Condition
Excellent vintage condition with bright glaze, intact cork, and original red-and-gold DeForest of California foil label on the base. Minor surface wear consistent with age; no chips or cracks.
Gallery
Historical context
During the late 1940s and 1950s, American potteries such as DeForest of California embraced humor and innuendo in household ceramics. This “Oh, Nurse” jug merged two cultural icons of the era: the hospital and the home bar.
DeForest’s designers exaggerated the outline of a male urinal—then a familiar hospital object—to lampoon medical seriousness and make light of the “doctor’s orders” for a stiff drink. The result is both risqué and ingenious: a tongue-in-cheek piece of medical memorabilia disguised as barware.
Curious Facts, Ephemera, and Trivia
Sold in drugstores and gift shops as a gag for doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.
The urinal shape was deliberate, down to the measurement markings typical of hospital issue bottles.
DeForest’s “Oh, Nurse” line included ashtrays and mugs with similar medical double-entendre themes.
Today these jugs are collected by both medical historians and midcentury barware enthusiasts.
Excerpt
Printed front panel: “RX – MARTINI MIXER – OH, NURSE.”
Back panel shows a cartoon chemist mixing drinks as though compounding prescriptions.
Why it is in the Cabinet
Selected for its perfect fusion of medical humor and material culture.
This DeForest jug exemplifies postwar America’s ability to poke fun at medicine itself—transforming a utilitarian urinal into a prescription for laughter. It captures the boundary between clinical object and cultural artifact, making it an ideal addition to the Cabinet’s collection of medical curiosities.
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