We found these Victorian bathroom illustrations and photos on the Vintage Plumbing website. They say the bathroom was very rarely photographed at the turn of the century, so these bathroom illustrations from old trade catalogs are special. We love the drawing above of a New York brownstone bathroom by J.L. Mott...
It's amazing how all of these bathrooms have good natural lighting, high ceilings, and crown mouldings. Today's idea of a great bathroom still takes a few ques from these Victorian designs: white running bond subway tile, generous lavatories, and designated storage for all of our bathroom accoutrements.
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Comments (7)
Could you imagine! Stained glass and a fireplace in the bathroom.
In those days, windows were necessary in the bathroom. Too bad we had to move away from that in many of today's dwellings.
Is that a bidet on the right in the top photo?
saradanger, yes that is a bidet. I wish Americans would learn to use them. Once you get used to them it's hard to live without. If I ever own a bathroom it will have to include a bidet.
In the very first drawing -- on the left-hand side under the window: what is that contraption affixed to the wall (on 2 legs). it almost looks like a toddler-sized sink. what is it?
It is "a china stool affixed to the wall".
Love it! While hard at work trying to keep our brownstone as original as possible, we came across this great drawing of an early victorian bathroom:
Green in Harlem: Victorian Bath
The wainscoting may be a bit overwhelming, but what a difference from today's ultra-modern edifices!
That is actually not a bidet in the first picture...it's a commode style toilette.