Antique Wash Stands
WASH-STANDS
About 1740 to 1915
Mahogany wash-stand with bowl and soap-ball, about 1770-1790.
Ffirst introduced during the 1740s when hygiene was recognized as a matter of importance. By 1780 ‘bason’ stands were present in every fashionable bedroom. They were utilitarian and discreet, rather then showy. Late-19thC washstands were generally made en suite with other bedroom furniture.
STYLE AND APPEARANCE
Designed to provide storage space for tooth brushes and shaving accessories as well as support for a basin and ewer of water, 18thC wash-stands were of three basic types:
Tripod stand: Introduced about 1740. Often inaccurately called a ‘wig stand’. Open ring at top, scrolled uprights and legs, two triangular drawers. Lower platform, usually dished to hold ewer. Spherical wooden box for the wash ball (ball of soap) above the drawers, usually slotting on to a fixed wooden peg. (These are very often missing today over wash-stand with rising mirror and bidet drawer.
Enclosed wash-stand, box form: About 1750 onwards, with cupboard and drawer(s), one real, other(s) dummy. Hinged top opening to the back forming a splash-back, or two flaps opening to either side. Straight, square-sectioned legs. Holes for the bowl, soap and sponge dishes cut in inner top. Often a rising mirror at back. Tambour front to cupboard fashionable around 1790. Usually small, about 14 inches/35 cm square, but forawhile (17801810) slightly larger and more complex. Could be combined with a night commode (see p. 14) or have dummy drawer at front concealing bidet actually pulling out from side. Bidet drawer supported on two thin legs joined by stretcher hinged to lower drawer edge and folding up when the drawer was pushed in.
Corner wash-stand: About 1785 onwards. Delicate-looking objects with thin legs, front two splayed. Usually an open shelf at base with raised ring to hold the ewer; either a drawer with a cupboard above or sometimes a separate drawer set some distance below an open shelf with a shallow, shaped apron. Curved splash-back, commonly fixed, but sometimes composed of two quadrants, one hinged to the other and the whole hinged to one side, both folding down to conceal the basin when not in use.
Corner enclosed basin stand.
Wash-stands proliferated in the 19thC, although the basic theme was a table form with a single frieze of drawers, a marble top and a fixed ;plash-back. Ceramic jug and basin sets with matching dishes, shaving and tooth mugs were openly displayed on top. Tiled splash-backs were introduced around 1870, fixed towel rails around 1890. Cupboards — to conceal chamber pots — were another late feature.
A common early 19thC mahogany washstand.
MATERIALS
Principally mahogany; occasionally satinwood. Also walnut, birch and deal during Victoria’s reign. Oak for progressive 1890s pieces.
Victorian washstand with marble top.
CONSTRUCTION
Veneer on some 18thC pieces. Rising mirrors hung on counter-balanced weights.
DECORATION
Very little in 18thC apart from cross-banding and other decorative veneers. Restrained inlay occasionally present about 1790-1820, followed by similarly restrained carving until about 1840.
Marble tops — universal from about 1830 —decorative in themselves. Commonly blue-veined white marble; best quality pieces had more striking colours and figuration. Splash-back tiles frequently multi-coloured and variously patterned; the cheapest were plain leaf green.
Handles followed prevailing fashions (for details, see p. 15)
FINISH
Polish; green, brown or ‘natural’ wood stain on Victorian deal followed by paint during the 1890s, popularly green, sometimes white.
RELATIVE VALUES
Early basin stands, low four figures;corner and fold-over top, three to four figures. Victorian (plain mahogany or walnut with marble top) three figures; pine with tiled splash-back (stripped of original finish), low three figures.
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Tags: bedroom furniture, cupboard, furniture, furniture style, Mahogany, Victoria, Wash Stands