(Free Download) Colonial Washstand

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I found the original of this piece while on vacation on Jekyll Island in Georgia. It was one of a pair in a conference room at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel and was probably made during the middle of the eighteenth century. It was, as ours is, made from pine.

Close inspection failed to reveal traces of any finish other than many years of wax polishing. Most pieces like this, however, would have been painted. I’ve chosen a scrubbed finish, a look I’ve seen often on such pieces.

Before the advent of hot and cold running water, washstands like this one would have been an essential part of most early and Victorian American bedroom suites. Towels, washcloths and other linens would have been kept in the drawers while the galleried top would have been home to a large ceramic bowl and water jug.

It’s a look that’s often duplicated to good effect today. This washstand is a faithful copy of the one I found on Jekyll Island. I’ve searched the books but have not been able to find anything quite like it. In other words, it seems to be unique. Try out this project by downloading the plan below: