The bidet is a fixture that has undergone some major changes over the centuries. The earliest bidets usually consisted of a wooden base and a porcelain basin. A bidet is sometimes constructed like a chair, complete with a back for comfortable sitting. Sometimes it is hidden in a piece of furniture that looks a lot like a footstool. It’s worth noting that early bidets were meant to be placed in bedrooms rather than bathrooms.

As with all furniture, the wealthier the owner, the more ornate the bidet. Napoleon of France is said to have left a silver-plated bidet in his will. The French made bidets as beautiful and ornate as everything else in the home. The basins could be artistically decorated and the bases could be beautifully carved. Many theories suggest that the French were the inventors of the bidet. However, some historians believe that honor belongs to the Italians. Today, bidets are more common in Italy than in France, although both countries still use the devices.