French Country · Encyclopedia · Antique Furniture and Seating
Wash Stand
A Victorian bedroom stand that held a basin and pitcher, now reused as a vanity or side table.
Dressers & Commodes · Indicative US retail $150–$1,200
At a glance
- Family: Dressers & Commodes
- Periods most often found: Victorian and Eastlake wash stands date mostly from 1860 to 1910; French Louis Philippe and Henri II examples from 1840 to 1910.
- Typical price: about $400; range $150 to $1,200 and more for exceptional pieces
- What drives value: Marble top, splash back, solid wood
What it is
Before indoor plumbing, the wash stand held a basin and pitcher in the bedroom. Victorian and French examples often have a marble top with a raised splash back, towel bars at the sides and a cupboard below. In France, the "table de toilette" was often paired with a marble-topped chevet.
How to identify and date it
Check the marble for cracks, stains and repairs; look under the marble for a hole cut for a basin; inspect wood for water damage and lifting veneer. Some wash stands have lost their splash backs or towel bars; others have been converted to sinks.
Marble tops, splash backs and towel bars are typical; check for water damage.
Periods and styles
Victorian and Eastlake wash stands date mostly from 1860 to 1910; French Louis Philippe and Henri II examples from 1840 to 1910.
How much is it worth?
On the US retail market, most wash stand examples ask around $400. Simple or worn pieces start near $150, while documented, signed or exceptional examples can pass $1,200. The main value drivers are: marble top, splash back, solid wood. These are indicative ranges, not an appraisal; see our price guide for French antiques for the method.
Questions buyers ask: antique wash stand price; antique wash stand value. The answer depends on the points below, which are worth checking before you compare prices.
Before you buy
- Check the marble
- Inspect the wood around the top
- Confirm the splash back
- Check towel bars
- Measure height
Living with it
A wash stand converts beautifully into a bathroom vanity with a vessel sink, or a side table in a bedroom.
How we write these guides: identification notes are general guidance written by French Country; a style name, a region or a resemblance does not by itself date or attribute a piece. Price ranges are indicative US retail asking prices for antique and vintage examples in sound condition (dealers, specialist marketplaces and auctions), estimated and rounded as of November 2026; check recent sold results before relying on a figure. They are not appraisals or offers to buy or sell: condition, provenance and documentation can move a value far outside the range. For insurance, estates or sales, ask an independent, qualified appraiser for a written valuation.