Antique Washstands and Occasional Stands
Antique Washstands and Occasional Stands
This one word covers a large number of different types. Most supported some sort of lighting equipment or enabled some work of art to be seen from the right angle. They are popular today because they help to vary
the levels in a room and often find employment for vases of flowers.
One of a pair of eighteenth century walnut torcheres with moulded serpentine top. The stem of baluster form on the top half with hexagonal shape below. The (literally) tripod base carved to resemble three buckled
shoes with knees and decoration of stylised acanthus leaf. The William and Mary stem with early eighteenth century feet looks a little strange probably Dutch. c.1720
A Chippendale rococo mahogany torchere with three pillar column and a hexagonal moulded edge top. An elegant piece that could easily be mistaken for Edwardian. c. 1760
A set of very elegant moulded mahogany legs supports this small Hepplewhite urn stand with small slide. Although it is slightly damaged there is no disguising the quality. To make an elegant cabriole as long as this takes real skill. c. 1760
A very striking mahogany urn stand, again with small slide or candle-stand. The elegant curved cross stretcher support with a vase-shaped finial in the centre is a very good touch. c. 1770
One of a pair of oval classical marquetry torcheres or lamp stands. The Greek motifs of honeysuckle, continuous C-scroll and square key are all present. The platform and hairy feet are a later addition. c. 1800
One of a Regency pair of torcheres with gilt birds’ heads. One can see in the base the same triangular form that appears on card tables of the period.
A George IV hat stand. Surprisingly elegant turnings, though the overall effect is not exciting.
Typical rather late, rather nasty Victorian jardiniere. The marquetry adds to value, but otherwise it is useful rather than quality.
Quite a different sort a folio stand, the type that picture dealers have to have for unmounted prints, drawings and watercolours. A heavy utilitarian example which always seems to be in demand no matter how ugly.
Late 18th century
WASHSTANDS
Like the night table the washstand, designed to hold the jug and basin set, is now technically obsolete. The question of value is therefore influenced by the use to which they can be put.
The first three examples are extremely decorative and are the corner variety. The four-legged washstands tend to have their galleries lowered, or replaced with brass frets. Complete with inset red tooled leather the
price is at least doubled.
A mahogany corner washstand with arched back and three drawers but no undertier.
A mahogany corner washstand with splayed legs and a shaped back to the basin shelf which is inlaid with stringing. Note also the drawers and shaped stretcher, dished centrally to hold a jug (an undertier, technically).
A rather fine fruitwood eighteenth century washstand on three cabriole legs. With pillar uprights supporting the triform centre section with two drawers and, above, a circular basin holder. Note the dished base,
designed to hold a jug or basin.
A late Georgian mahogany washstand on turned legs, with two cock-beaded drawers and shaped back and sides in solid mahogany, which is thin enough to give an appearance of lightness without being flimsy.
with turned legs 250-350 with tapered legs 350 -450
A Victorian mahogany washstand which is similar to the previous example but the legs have lost the elegance of turning and the drawers are simple, without cockbeading. The high backs are sometimes found cut down and leather can be inserted to make a writing table. c. 1860
A late Georgian mahogany corner washstand with fretted top to provide carrying handles and drawers below. The price of such pieces often depends on the existence of a set of china bowl and beakers to fit in the
spaces in the top shelf.
Decorative inlays and veneers
Late Georgian mahogany dumb waiter in which the upper tiers are of the folding flap type. Dumb waiters were used from the early 18th century onwards and were generallyplaced near a table so that guests could help themselves without the need for servants to stand in attendance. Sheraton includes them in his Cabinet Dictionary but the designs are rather complicated.
Elegance of tripod base
This mahogany washstand from the Price Guide to Antique Furniture showed how the Georgian mahogany type came to develop into that which we associate with the Victorian era a plain back, turned legs, wooden
drawer knobs. Subsequently the Victorians improved the breed by adding marble or tiles to the surfaces liable to get wet and by omitting the sides and adding towel rails as on the next examples.
Mahogany washstand with marble top and back. Slightly more ‘artistic’ washstand with marble top and stringing lines in box and ebony green tiled back. Inlaid stringing lines in box and ebony. Note
Oak washstand on turned tapering legs. Green tiled back, marble top, integral wooden towel rails.
A Liberty’s oak washstand en suite with a toilet or dressing table. The back is inlaid with pewter tulip heads above a canvas flap. The surface for the washbasin is of lead and there are cupboard doors below.
A corner washstand illustrated by Percy Wells c.1920. The design is basically 18th century, derived from the Hepplewhite and Sheraton types of the 1790s. c.1920
OCCASIONAL STANDS
Nos. 484-491 show a selection of perennially favourite stands for plants, busts and other ornament requiring elevation, from a manufacturer’s catalogue of 1900-1910.
An oak palm stand on four long legs with shelf stretcher.
An inlaid oak jardiniere of a type often made with decoration of hanging chains.
A burr walnut jardiniere’ or pot holder in the French rococo manner. With typical ormolu mounts on Me `knees’ of the cabriole legs and a brass gallery rail around the top. 1860-1880
An Edwardian ‘art nouveau’ pot stand in oak, flimsily made but with typically-shaped gallery or railing in the lower half. Ideal for Art pottery display.
An ebonised turned pedestal suitable for a bust of Mr. Gladstone.
A mahogany palm stand on a tripod base in mid-18th century style.
Ebonised turned pedestal of heavy dimensions and of distinctly 19th century design.
A more conventional ebonised fluted pedestal of 18th century classical design.
A mahogany palm stand similar to 484 but inlaid with ‘Sheraton’ stringing and decoration.
Another palm stand based on a jardiniere design.
yukiko oropearl gold bracelet pearl
earrings filigree gold hand sarda
ring in white gold aquamarine
gold earrings pending with onyx
love natural diamond ring
contrary to aquamarine and diamond
white gold ring strst24
inizianello white gold and diamonds
Tags: 18th century, Antique, antique washstands, Art Nouveau, cabriole, card tables, cupboard, DECORATION, furniture, george iv, hexagonal shape, jug, lighting equipment, Mahogany, marble, oak, Rococo, STANDS, table, washstand, william and mary, Wooden