Great Lakes Wash Basin? Correction - EastLake

[Spencer541]

Hi All,
Looking for some help trying to identify this piece of furniture.  I have here an item that was told to be a "Great Lakes" wash basin for houses prior to plumbing.  There are no visible manufacturing markings on the outside of it.  If this info helps at all - it does however have skeleton key style locks, and the wheels are made wood. By chance does anybody here recognize this piece of furniture?
Thanks
Spence

[mariok54]

Coming from the wrong side of the pond I wouldn't really know what a Great Lakes wash basin is ... but to me this doesn't look as if it would be very practical for that purpose. Also, if something was intended to sit in the gap then I don't believe the mirror would go all the way down.
If I'd just been presented with this photo I'd have probably said that it was a hall piece, but I could be wrong.
Some of the others may be able to recognise it straight off, but some more detailed (and clearer possibly) photos might help.
Good luck

[hosman321]

Looks like a bedroom vanity to me. Maybe all of the lady's perfume and powder went in the gap?

[hosman321]

By the way, I believe this would be considered eastlake style and that's where the "great lakes" idea came from.

[mariok54]

You could be right, Hosman, what put me off that idea was the lack of leg room for a vanity. I'll have to look up  'eastlake' style

[waywardangler]

So would that be the Ontario style of greatlakes/eastlake as that would be the easternmost lake?    I was unaware that eastlake was connected with great lakes style.  I have seen some Superior furniture, some Michigan furniture, some Erie looking furniture, but no Huron or Ontario pieces.  This may be the missing Ontario style.

It also looks like a compact vanity to me.

[hosman321]

It was named after a man named Eastlake I believe. I just meant thats where the poster's great lakes idea came from. 
Or does it really have to do with the lakes. I am so lost!

[sapphire]

Looks like you've likely got an Eastlake (edited to ad .. or Eastlake style) vanity or dressing table there........that's a far as I can get you. Now someone who's more familiar with the Eastlake lines better chime in  

[Spencer541]

Thanks guys for chiming in.  You are correct as this piece has been referred to as an Eastlake and not a Greatlake, my mistake.
Are there any tell tales signs that I could post pictures of that would give more clues to its origin?

[hosman321]

My guess is that it dates to 1890-1905-ish. It really is beautiful and the wear gives it great character. If you wish to know exactly who made it, the only real way to figure it out is if you can find a name on it somewhere. Sometimes the name can be hidden on the back, on the bottom or inside a drawer. A lot of the time the maker just used a paper label and it's probably long gone by now. Let is know if you find any markings!

[sapphire]

Spencer, give this a read over and see if it helps out any.  You've got a much better view than us and can make a better comparison. 

http://www.harpgallery.com/library/dovetails.htm

[KC]

These were used/made well into the 1930's.  Known as a Dressing Case or Bedroom Vanity.  Yes, they would sit on stools in front of the middle area.

You will find these Victorian, French, etc.....

Here's a good example of an Eastlake Dressing Case with a drop center like yours.


Can you post pics of the sides of a pulled out drawer, back side, etc.  Look for markings inside the drawer well areas.

[mart]

Thats a nice Eastlake piece .  The dropped center could have held a wash basin but I think that it was designed low so that the lady would have a full length view of how she looked. Just my opinion though.

[jacon4]

Yup, Eastlake. Charles Eastlake was a british architect who published a book around 1870, although he never made furniture, his ideas/ designs dominated the last period of victorian furniture. After eastlake, the golden age of oak came in just after the turn of the 20th century. Eastlake furniture has clean vertical lines with straight incised relief carvings.

[KC]

FYI, the pic I listed above i selling for $4,500.
http://www.malleries.com/eastlake-walnut-dressing-case-i-3423-s-88.html