The bidet does not have a single confirmed inventor, but it is generally agreed to have originated in France in the late 17th or very early 18th century, probably created by French furniture makers for aristocratic households.

Origin and era

Most historical sources place the first bidets in France in the late 1600s or early 1700s, with the earliest written reference appearing around 1710. At that time, full-body bathing was relatively infrequent, so the bidet served as a convenient way to wash the genital and anal area between baths.

Who is credited

No document names a definitive inventor, so historians generally say the exact creator is unknown. However, several modern histories note that a French furniture maker named Christophe (or Christopher) des Rosiers, who worked for the royal family, is often credited as an early designer who popularized the device among the nobility.

Name and early use

The word “bidet” comes from French for “pony” or “little horse,” a reference to the way users straddled the early basin on legs. Initially, bidets were luxury bedroom fixtures in French palaces and noble homes, later evolving into dedicated bathroom plumbing fixtures as indoor plumbing spread.