The search for antique kitchen sinks

Want to relive the excitement of the California Gold Rush of the mid-19th century? Or the grandeur of the Victorian era? If your answer is ‘Yes’, try installing an antique sink in your kitchen and reflect on the glorious past of your ancestors while you eat.

Getting a real antique or vintage kitchen sink won’t be easy. The kitchen sink from the history book pages has likely developed cracks or crevices and the one you are lucky enough to find may not have the necessary accessories, such as faucets, to make it work in today’s kitchen.

Kitchen sinks in the mid-1800s or early 1900s were made of marble, porcelain, fireclay, or copper. Most of them came from continental Europe: France and Italy.

Kitchen sinks from the early 20th century are quite difficult to find in their original usable condition. This helps drive up the price.

For example, a classic 1900 model of marble washbasin, manufactured in Chicago by Wolff Mfg. Co, which Los Angeles-based Vintage Plumbing has put up for sale, has a 4 ‘tall heavy French plate beveled mirror dash. It has full original mixer hardware and full supply and drain hardware under the sink. It has nickel-plated brass cabriole legs and carved soap dish on the slab drains in the sink. The store has priced it at $ 8,900.

According to Vintage Plumbing, kitchen sinks from the 20s and 30s are very popular with customers and therefore have a fairly good stock. The store features vintage farmhouse kitchen sinks made by Kohler’s, Standard Sanitary Mfg Co, as well as Wolff Mfg. Co. However, the store admits that it is difficult to find sinks in good condition.