Art Nouveau Washstand in Oak with Marble Top, 1900s

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Description

This two-door oak washstand with a marble top and upper section dates from the Art Nouveau period, circa 1900–1910. The … Read more This two-door oak washstand with a marble top and upper section dates from the Art Nouveau period, circa 1900–1910. The clearly structured body, the horizontally profiled moldings, and the sparingly applied floral carvings create a calm, balanced overall impression in which ornament and construction are harmoniously integrated. Historical Context: Before the widespread introduction of running water in homes, the washstand was a standard feature of the middle-class bedroom. The washbasin and pitcher stood on the water-resistant marble top, while the raised upper section protected the wall from splashes. Drawers and the lower cabinet provided storage for towels, soap, and toiletries. Around 1900, such pieces of furniture were often made as part of a bedroom set and increasingly produced using serial workshop methods, with Art Nouveau influences also finding their way into these functional furnishings. Features: The drawer pulls are made of brass plates with a floral relief and movable levers; the escutcheon features a vertically oriented plant motif, and the key is included. The door panels feature mirror-image corner carvings with buds, curved foliage, and a tapering spiral against a punched background. Design: The design follows the German Art Nouveau style in its restrained, furniture-crafted form. The body is strictly rectangular and is articulated by profiled frame moldings, fluted corner posts, and a slightly curved lower frame. The ornamentation is limited to the upper corners of the panels and incorporates typical vegetal forms of the period, such as buds, curves, and volutes. The curved side panels of the marble top provide a formal counterpoint to the straight lines of the base.

Function: Formerly: a washstand in the bedroom for holding washbasins and providing storage space for linens and toiletries. Today: a chest of drawers or sideboard in the living room, bedroom, or dining area, a shelf in the hallway, or as a base for a washstand in the bathroom.

Dimensions: Height 87 cm (to marble top) / 103 cm (with top) × Width 100 cm × Depth 50 cm. Material and condition: Oak, white-grey veined marble top with marble top, brass fittings. Well preserved with age-related wear; the fittings show an even patina. Inspected, cleaned, treated appropriately for the material, structurally checked, stable and functional; also refurbished internally.
Up to 250V (Europe/UK Standard).The wiring of this item may be original and might need replacement, if not specified otherwise. See less