Washing stand of carved mahogany, of tripod form, with a lower shelf for a ewer below an open ring to hold a basin. The feet are carved as hooves, with acanthus foliage and other ornament.

Washing stand of carved mahogany, of tripod form, with a lower shelf for a ewer below an open ring to hold a basin. The feet are carved as hooves, with acanthus foliage and other ornament.
The three legs are square-sectioned, with raised panels on the visible faces, carved with pendants of husks, above feet carved as cloven hooves, with hairy and foliate carved fetlocks. The legs are concave, uniting at a flask-shaped, turned element, carved withan edge moulding of egg-and-dart above a ring of upright acanthus, below which hang six lappets carved with pendant husks, those between the legs with tassel finials, those over the legs without. The top of the urn is turned with a small framing fillet, the recessed centre designed to hold a ewer. Four support rise from the sides of the flask motif, of square section and in the form of stepped scrolls, the lower parts following the concave shape of the flask. The sides of these are carved with foliate ornament. They support a substantial ring with a similar double band of upright acanthus and egg-and-dart as on the body of the flask.

Purchased from Mallett & Son Ltd, 40 New Bond Street, London W1 for £365. See Registered Files 66/1318.

This stand is designed to hold a small basin and a ewer for water, for hand-washing. The carving of the lower part is of fine quality but its scale seems unrelated to the smaller upper section and it is possible that this washing-stand has been adapted, using an older base.

W.8-1966