While most people seem very open about bodily functions, modesty, and behavior in our modern times, it wasn’t always like that. During the Victorian era (and the overlapping period in the US called the Gilded Age), no one would discuss anything concerning clothing, personal care, or bathing and grooming topics in polite company. Modern conveniences like indoor plumbing and electricity have eliminated the need for certain household items that were a necessity during this period. As a result, many collectors now find wash basin pitcher sets and chamber pots attractive additions to their wares. Yes, even bedpans are showing up at auctions and estate sales.
BASIN BASICS
Naturally, without the benefit of running water inside homes, there had to be a way for people to wash up, shave, and stay clean. Not only for reasons of propriety but to curb the spread of disease as well. A wash basin and pitcher of water in a bedroom was standard in the 19th century; no home, even a rustic farmhouse, would be without one.
The basin and pitcher sets, rather than being hidden away in a bathroom, were part of the bedroom décor. Florals were popular, along with gold trim along the edges of the bowls and stylized pitcher handles with ornate designs. Since their purpose was for washing up, they were not generally kept on a dresser or vanity but placed on stands designed to hold everything needed for a daily scrub. Victorian wash basin stands often included a mirror and a lower shelf to stash a spare chamber pot. The stands are now sometimes repurposed as planters or accent furniture to give a room the look of days gone by.
Collectors looking for vintage basin and pitcher sets today usually want something from McCoy, a company that produced various porcelain and stoneware household products. Their products ranged from plainer styles to more intricate designs and are still sought after today.
Of course, since not every home resembled Downton Abbey, houses without servants had more practical pitchers and basins. Many of these styles are now prevalent in the “Modern Farmhouse” look. On a farm, it’s about function over form, and all a basin and pitcher were for was pouring water and maybe getting a fresh shave. Many basins were simply tin buckets or porcelain enamel over cast iron and plain ironstone pitchers meant to last.
OTHER HOUSEHOLD UNMENTIONABLES
Part of the problem of not having indoor plumbing is what to do when someone in the house is ill. Whether it’s a woman recovering from childbirth, or an elderly family member in their last days, without modern sinks, toilets, and showers, taking care of someone sick became a complicated process. Washing bed linens and night clothes had to be done by hand, with washboards, scrub brushes, and harsh lye soaps.
Servants in many upper-class homes provided personal care for invalids, and some of the equipment used in home care has found a following among collectors. Eric Eakin of Bay Village, OH, is one such collector. He isn’t the only one, however. He knows of two others from his use of eBay, though he has lost contact with a collector who lived in Wisconsin. Eakin’s collection has been certified as the largest by Ripley’s Believe it or Not, making him the “Bedpan King.” He has considered going for global recognition with the Guinness organization once he has documented his entire collection. For the record, he owns roughly 250 vintage bedpans and urinals. Just as chamber pots and basin sets came in various styles to appeal to the wealthy and the working class, bedpans were no different. The two examples below from the mid-1800s show the differences.
Although it’s much more hygienic and convenient now to stay clean and manage the “call of nature,” in the days of basins, bedpans, and chamber pots, style mattered for some homes, and function was the name of the game in others. As a result, basins and pitchers show up regularly at estate sales and auctions.
While we might enjoy the modern convenience of sinks and showers, a vintage basin and pitcher can add a vintage flair to almost any space. Andrew M., in his article “How Much Is My Antique Wash Basin Worth discusses what to look for and some of the more notable styles and makers of these iconic items.
Brenda Kelley Kim lives in the Boston area. She is the author of Sink or Swim: Tales From the Deep End of Everywhere and writes a weekly syndicated column for Gannett News/Wicked Local. When not writing or walking her snorty pug Penny, she enjoys yard sales, flea markets, and badminton.
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