GRACE AND ELEGANCE OF THE LAVATORY SET TRANSCEND VICTORIAN TIMES

Lavatory Wash Jugs or Pitchers, Wash Basins or Wash Bowls, Slop Jars or Waste Jars and Chamber or Thunder Pots of Victorian-Edwardian times have a resurgence in country decorating and work well with Shabby Chic.

F. WINKLE, "NANCY" JUG/PITCHER, C. 1900

F. WINKLE, "IRVING" WASH BOWL, C. 1900

STAFFORDSHIRE, SLOP/WASTE JAR, C. 1870

FLOW BLUE CHAMBER/THUNDER POT, C. 1900

Many if not most of these ornately shaped and decorated lavatory pieces were produced during the Victorian Era reaching into Edwardian Times to accommodate the bedroom of the more affluent household when of course there was no running water or flushing toilets. An Ewer Set (Jug & Basin) always graced the wash-stand in every bedroom such that the persons awakening or retiring could wash themselves after having used the other accessory pieces.

The more ornately molded and high quality transferware pieces were always found in the more affluent household, whereas the heavy plain white ironstone was to be found more so in the countryside household if one did not have to use the outside little wooden toilet house. For the affluent household, the more ornately decorated and quality transferware was considered a status symbol. Many times these sets were multi-colored transferware that was either typographical or romantic in content. On the other hand, many were floral scenes - all of which set an atmosphere to the bedroom.

Still today these beautiful pottery objects can easily add a charming accent in home decor. As for the ewer sets, they can stand alone and look quite pleasant in a bedroom or hallway whereas the other pieces may need a beautiful floral arrangement to offset the reminder of their past usage, and still be very charming decorator accents. Lovely relics of the past can surely find a quaint spot in ones home. Definitely great items with which to decorate the cottage and bring back the elegance and beauty of the past, of course strictly as decorative and can be treated as objects of art or collection pieces.

Such wonderful pieces of transferware are treasured by many private collections and museums thorough out the world. Many such pieces were originally transfered onto pearlware, ironstone and eventually semi-porcelain as clay mediums. If you wish to read further regarding these terminologies, click Media at top of Home page. Click photos to enlarge.