{HISTORY}

Once the practical, utilitarian worker of the house, antique wash basin bowls were one of the most dependable, reliable, and functional ceramic pieces that you could own. Essentially serving as a sink before indoor plumbing evolved, wash basins like this were once part of daily life helping to keep everyone clean and fresh and looking their best.

Originally, this big bowl would have come with a matching pitcher and several companions - a complimentary collection of essential pieces in a daily grooming kit. Somewhere along its journey, this one lost its mates, so it's traveling solo these days, but its functionality is not diminished in the least by the absence of its companions.

Featuring large, beautiful brown transferware flowers on the interior and exterior and a speckled gold painted rim, this bowl is a beauty inside and out. The floral bouquets are made up of mums, morning glories and another type of anemone-style flower with poppy-like seed heads and detailed leaves. In addition to the floral transferware inside and out, this one also features an embossed vining style swag on the exterior as well.

Measuring 14.5" inches in diameter x 4.5" inches in height, its hefty weight (5.2lbs) makes it a substantial piece today that is both lovely for decor and functional purposes. Here in the Vintage Kitchen, on the decorating front, we love to fill old wash basin bowls with seasonal fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers for unique table centerpieces. Think assorted pine cones in fall, a collection of dried seed pods and berries in winter, mushrooms and moss in the spring, and mini floral bouquets in summer. 

In the function department, our favorite way to utilize antique washbasins is more akin to their natural purpose...  for cleaning and soaking all the delicate linens that you don't want to run through a traditional washing machine. Their large deep size accommodates quite a number of linens at once and the slippery smooth interior glaze keeps delicate fabrics from snagging and tearing. As far as soaking tubs go, you can't find anything prettier than an antique floral basin bowl.

Unmarked as to maker or manufacturer, we can't attribute this one to any particular maker. That means it comes with its own dose of mystery too along with its pretty composition. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Large size

- Colors include espresso, taupe and white 

{CONDITION}

In lovely antique condition. This basin bowl contains no significant chips or cracks and no staining. There are two impressed indentation marks at the bottom of the bowl on the interior, which look to be marks made during the manufacturing process. Nearby, there is also an age-old 3" inch crack that appears on the inside and outside of the bowl. This crack is located next to the poppy seed head of the largest mum flower and does not affect the bowl's ability to hold water. Please see photo. The transferware is crisp and clear on both sides. The gold splattering around the rim is shiny in some spots and matte in other areas.

{SIZE}

Measures 14.5" inches in diameter x 4.5" inches in height and weighs (5.2lbs)

{FOR THE COLLECTOR}

If you are looking for a mismatched set, this basin bowl looks very pretty with this brown transferware antique wash pitcher.  If you are looking for more antique wash basin bowls find them here.