Illus. 44.—Empire Bureau and Glass, 1810-1820.
They were also called wig stands because they were kept in the dressing-room where the fine gentleman halted to remove his hat, and powder his wig. The basin rested in the opening in the top, and in the little drawers were kept the powder and other accessories of the toilet. The depression in the shelf was for the ewer, probably bottle shaped, to rest in, after the gentleman had poured the water into the basin, to dip his fingers in after powdering his wig.
Illus. 45.—Basin Stand, 1770.
The charming little basin or wig stand in Illustration [45] is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The wood is mahogany and the feet are a flattened type of claw and ball, giving the little stand, with its basin and ewer, some stability, unless an unwary pointed toe should be caught by the spreading legs. The acanthus leaf is carved on the knees, and the chamfered corners above have an applied fret.
The drawings of Shearer, Hepplewhite and Sheraton show both square and corner washstands of mahogany with slender legs.
The washstand in Illustration [46] is of mahogany, and differs from the usual corner stand in having the enclosed cupboard. It was made from a Hepplewhite design and is owned by Francis H. Bigelow, Esq., of Cambridge.
The corner washstand in Illustration [47] is owned by the writer. It is of mahogany, and the drawers are finely inlaid, probably after a Sheraton design.
