Pitchers, Basins & Washstands Photos

In the days before indoor plumbing, most households used pottery pitchers and basins set on washstands for personal wash-ups.

Click thumbnail to enlarge. F11 to view website full screen.
Wash basin & pitcher at Baca Adobe House. Trinidad, CO.Pitchers & basins at Santa Fe Trail Museum. Trinidad, CO.Chairs, candle table & washstand in bedroom at Oliver Ellsworth Homestead Museum. Windsor, CT.Mirror & wash stand with metal shaving bowl at Silas Deane House. Wethersfield, CT.
Wash basin & pitcher at Baca Adobe House. Trinidad, CO.Pitchers & basins at Santa Fe Trail Museum. Trinidad, CO.Chairs, candle table & washstand in bedroom at Oliver Ellsworth Homestead Museum. Windsor, CT.Mirror & wash stand with metal shaving bowl at Silas Deane House. Wethersfield, CT.
Table, armchair & washstand in bedroom at Isaac Stevens House. Wethersfield, CT.Washstand with pitcher & basin in bedroom at Isaac Stevens House. Wethersfield, CT.Ceramic basin & pitcher with blue European scene at Hurlbut-Dunham House. Wethersfield, CT.Washstand with basin & ewer at Shaw Mansion. New London, CT.
Table, armchair & washstand in bedroom at Isaac Stevens House. Wethersfield, CT.Washstand with pitcher & basin in bedroom at Isaac Stevens House. Wethersfield, CT.Ceramic basin & pitcher with blue European scene at Hurlbut-Dunham House. Wethersfield, CT.Washstand with basin & ewer at Shaw Mansion. New London, CT.
Washstand with basin at Shaw Mansion. New London, CT.Washstand with basin & pitcher & piss pot at Judson House. Stratford, CT.Pitcher & basin once used by Lafayette when he stayed at nearby hotel at Judson House. Stratford, CT.Washstand with fold-open top at Thankful Arnold House. Haddam, CT.
Washstand with basin at Shaw Mansion. New London, CT.Washstand with basin & pitcher & piss pot at Judson House. Stratford, CT.Pitcher & basin once used by Lafayette when he stayed at nearby hotel at Judson House. Stratford, CT.Washstand with fold-open top at Thankful Arnold House. Haddam, CT.
Wash basin & pitcher marked FG in Art Colony bedroom at Florence Griswold Museum. Old Lyme, CT.Washstand with pitcher & basin at Danbury Museum & Historical Society. Danbury, CT.Pewter basin & pitcher on chest at Old Stone House. Washington, DC.Chinese export pitcher & basin at Tudor Place. Washington, DC.
Wash basin & pitcher marked FG in Art Colony bedroom at Florence Griswold Museum. Old Lyme, CT.Washstand with pitcher & basin at Danbury Museum & Historical Society. Danbury, CT.Pewter basin & pitcher on chest at Old Stone House. Washington, DC.Chinese export pitcher & basin at Tudor Place. Washington, DC.
Desk & washstand with Pearlware pitcher & basin in Illinois period bedroom at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.with Pearlware pitcher & basin by C.&W.K. Harvey of London in Illinois period bedroom at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Washstand with spatterware basin & pitcher by J & S Alcock Jr. in Cobridge, England in Texas period bedroom at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Pink & green wash basin & chamber pot set at Lightner Museum. St Augustine, FL.
Desk (1830-40) & washstand with Pearlware pitcher & basin (1835-53) in Illinois period bedroom (1840s) at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.with Pearlware pitcher & basin (1835-53) by C.&W.K. Harvey of London in Illinois period bedroom (1840s) at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Washstand with spatterware basin & pitcher (1848-1944) by J & S Alcock Jr. in Cobridge, England in Texas period bedroom at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Pink & green wash basin & chamber pot set at Lightner Museum. St Augustine, FL.
Pitcher & basin from Florida settlers home at Historical Museum of Southern Florida. Miami, FL.Wash basin & pitcher on stand in Oldest Frame House of Mission House Museum. Honolulu, HI.Mirrors & washstand in rear bedroom at Nichols House Museum. Boston, MA.Washstand with pitcher & basin in rear bedroom at Nichols House Museum. Boston, MA.
Pitcher & basin from Florida settlers home (late 1800s) at Historical Museum of Southern Florida. Miami, FL.Wash basin & pitcher on stand in Oldest Frame House of Mission House Museum. Honolulu, HI.Mirrors & washstand in rear bedroom at Nichols House Museum. Boston, MA.Washstand with pitcher & basin in rear bedroom at Nichols House Museum. Boston, MA.
Washstand, pitcher & basin in Alcott parents' bedroom at Orchard House. Concord, MA.Boarding house mistress bedroom rocking chair & washstand at Boott Cotton Mills Boarding House. Lowell, MA.Boarding house working women bedroom with desk & washstand at Boott Cotton Mills Boarding House. Lowell, MA.Washstand, pitcher & basin plus chamber pot at Mayflower Society House. Plymouth, MA.
Washstand, pitcher & basin in Alcott parents' bedroom at Orchard House. Concord, MA.Boarding house mistress bedroom rocking chair & washstand at Boott Cotton Mills Boarding House. Lowell, MA.Boarding house working women bedroom with desk & washstand at Boott Cotton Mills Boarding House. Lowell, MA.Washstand, pitcher & basin plus chamber pot at Mayflower Society House. Plymouth, MA.
Pitcher & basin washing set in guest room at Peacefield. Quincy, MA.Blue & white Canton Chinese-import pitcher & basin at Rev. John Hale House. Beverly, MA.Washstand with pitcher & basin at Rev. John Hale House. Beverly, MA.Washstand with oriental import pitcher & basin at Jeremiah Lee Mansion. Marblehead, MA.
Pitcher & basin washing set in guest room at Peacefield. Quincy, MA.Blue & white Canton Chinese-import pitcher & basin at Rev. John Hale House. Beverly, MA.Washstand with pitcher & basin at Rev. John Hale House. Beverly, MA.Washstand with oriental import pitcher & basin at Jeremiah Lee Mansion. Marblehead, MA.
Tin-glazed earthenware ewer & basin prob. by Fauchier Manuf. of Marseilles, France at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.Tin-glazed earthenware ewer & basin by Chantilly Manuf., France at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.Visitor's chair, pitcher & basin, reading lamp in Frank James cell at 1859 Jail Museum. Independence, MO.Wash stand, pitcher & basin at Campbell House Museum. St. Louis, MO.
Tin-glazed earthenware ewer & basin (c1770) prob. by Fauchier Manuf. of Marseilles, France at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.Tin-glazed earthenware ewer & basin (c1735) by Chantilly Manuf., France at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.Visitor's chair, pitcher & basin, reading lamp in Frank James cell at 1859 Jail Museum. Independence, MO.Wash stand, pitcher & basin at Campbell House Museum. St. Louis, MO.
Shaving stand at Campbell House Museum. St. Louis, MO.Dresser with pitcher & basin at Truman Birthplace House. Lamar, MO.Dresser with wash basin & pitcher in Manship House. Jackson, MS.Wash basin & pitcher atop dresser in Oaks House Museum. Jackson, MS.
Shaving stand at Campbell House Museum. St. Louis, MO.Dresser with pitcher & basin at Truman Birthplace House. Lamar, MO.Dresser with wash basin & pitcher in Manship House. Jackson, MS.Wash basin & pitcher atop dresser in Oaks House Museum. Jackson, MS.
Washstand with pitcher, basin & chamber pot at Robert Frost Farm. Derry, NH.Washstand with pitcher & basin at Robert Frost Farm. Derry, NH.Dresser with pitcher & basin at Robert Frost Farm. Derry, NH.John the Baptist icon over pitcher & basin in La Placita at Rancho de las Golondrinas. Santa Fe, NM.
Washstand with pitcher, basin & chamber pot at Robert Frost Farm. Derry, NH.Washstand with pitcher & basin at Robert Frost Farm. Derry, NH.Dresser with pitcher & basin at Robert Frost Farm. Derry, NH.John the Baptist icon over pitcher & basin in La Placita at Rancho de las Golondrinas. Santa Fe, NM.
Art nouveau pitcher & tray at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Washstand with pitcher & basin plus other wash items in set at Grant Cottage SHS. Wilton, NY.Washbasin stand at Lefferts Homestead museum. Brooklyn, NY.Tripod wash-stand with typical English grooming devices at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.
Art nouveau pitcher & tray at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Washstand with pitcher & basin plus other wash items in set at Grant Cottage SHS. Wilton, NY.Washbasin stand at Lefferts Homestead museum. Brooklyn, NY.Tripod wash-stand (c1770) with typical English grooming devices (1700s) at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.
Wash stand at Garibaldi-Meucci Museum. Staten Island, NY.Doll, basin & pitcher with writing desk in Fanny Hayes bedroom at Hayes Presidential Home. Fremont, OH.Porcelain wash set & stand in bedroom in James A. Garfield home. Mentor, OH.Porcelain wash set & stand in President Garfield's bedroom at Garfield home. Mentor, OH.
Wash stand at Garibaldi-Meucci Museum. Staten Island, NY.Doll, basin & pitcher with writing desk in Fanny Hayes bedroom at Hayes Presidential Home. Fremont, OH.Porcelain wash set & stand in bedroom in James A. Garfield home. Mentor, OH.Porcelain wash set & stand in President Garfield's bedroom at Garfield home. Mentor, OH.
Chair & wash pitcher set in bedroom at Edison Birthplace Museum. Milan, OH.Wash set & washstand at Edison Birthplace Museum. Milan, OH.Bedroom wash basin & pitcher set at Ida Saxton McKinley Historic House. Canton, OH.Washstand set with pitcher & basin in bedroom at Sherwood-Davidson House. Newark, OH.
Chair & wash pitcher set in bedroom at Edison Birthplace Museum. Milan, OH.Wash set & washstand at Edison Birthplace Museum. Milan, OH.Bedroom wash basin & pitcher set at Ida Saxton McKinley Historic House. Canton, OH.Washstand set with pitcher & basin in bedroom at Sherwood-Davidson House. Newark, OH.
Pewter pitcher & basin with shaving mug at Johnston Farm. Piqua, OH.Basin & pitcher at Johnston Farm. Piqua, OH.Toilet ware set by Knowles, Taylor & Knowles, Co. of East Liverpool at Museum of Ceramics. East Liverpool, OH.Pitcher & basin damaged during Gettysburg fighting at NPS Museum. Gettysburg, PA.
Pewter pitcher & basin with shaving mug at Johnston Farm. Piqua, OH.Basin & pitcher at Johnston Farm. Piqua, OH.Toilet ware set (late 19thC) by Knowles, Taylor & Knowles, Co. of East Liverpool at Museum of Ceramics. East Liverpool, OH.Pitcher & basin damaged during Gettysburg fighting at NPS Museum. Gettysburg, PA.
Wash stand at Jennie Wade House Museum. Gettysburg, PA.Wash stand with pitchers & basins at Wheatland. Lancaster, PA.Blue basin & pitcher in guest bedroom in Saskatchewan Government House. Regina, SK.Pitcher & basin in children's room at Ash Lawn-Highland. Charlotttesville, VA.
Wash stand at Jennie Wade House Museum. Gettysburg, PA.Wash stand with pitchers & basins at Wheatland. Lancaster, PA.Blue basin & pitcher in guest bedroom in Saskatchewan Government House. Regina, SK.Pitcher & basin in children's room at Ash Lawn-Highland. Charlotttesville, VA.
Dresser & wash basin set in bedroom of Woodrow Wilson Birthplace. Staunton, VA.Basin & pitcher in U.S. Grant's HQ cabin at Hopewell. Hopewell, VA.Basin & pitcher by Bennington potters at Bennington Museum. Bennington, VT.Washstand with pitcher & basin at Park-McCullough Historic Estate. North Bennington, VT.
Dresser & wash basin set in bedroom of Woodrow Wilson Birthplace. Staunton, VA.Basin & pitcher in U.S. Grant's HQ cabin at Hopewell. Hopewell, VA.Basin & pitcher by Bennington potters at Bennington Museum. Bennington, VT.Washstand with pitcher & basin at Park-McCullough Historic Estate. North Bennington, VT.
Pitcher & basin in Coolidge Homestead at President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Park. Plymouth Notch, VT.Rocking chair beside washstand with pitcher & basin plus chamber pot in farm house at Billings Farm & Museum. Woodstock, VT.Pitcher & basin in bedroom at Craik-Patton House. Charleston, WV.Sèvres porcelain rose pitcher & oval basin at Petit Palace Museum. Paris, France.
Pitcher & basin in Coolidge Homestead at President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Park. Plymouth Notch, VT.Rocking chair beside washstand with pitcher & basin plus chamber pot in farm house at Billings Farm & Museum. Woodstock, VT.Pitcher & basin in bedroom at Craik-Patton House. Charleston, WV.Sèvres porcelain rose pitcher & oval basin (1757-65) at Petit Palace Museum. Paris, France.
Sèvres porcelain pitcher & basin at Sèvres National Ceramic Museum. Paris, France.Porcelain pitcher & basin by Porcelaine de Paris at Beaux-Arts Museum. Lyon, France.

Sèvres porcelain pitcher & basin (c1774) at Sèvres National Ceramic Museum. Paris, France.Porcelain pitcher & basin (1st-half 19thC) by Porcelaine de Paris at Beaux-Arts Museum. Lyon, France.


See Also:

All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

CMP