Corner Basin Stand
1790–1800
Medium
Mahogany with white pine and cherry, and light-colored inlays
Dimensions
94.3 × 59.1 × 41.9 cm (37 1/8 × 23 1/4 × 16 1/2 in.)
Classification
furniture accessory
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
120620
Art Historical Context
This elegant Corner Basin Stand, crafted between 1790 and 180, exemplifies the refined of early American Federal furniture from the Arts of the Americas Likely produced in New England workshops, its compact triangular form was designed to fit snugly into room corners, supporting a porcelain washbasin for personal grooming—a practical necessity in homes without modern plumbing. Standing at 37 inches tall, it reflects the neoclassical tastes of the post-Revolutionary era, when Americans sought sophistication inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. The stand's construction highlights masterful wood...