Asked on Jun 28, 2014

Anyone know what this is?

Kitchen Kelli
by Kitchen Kelli
Answer this question
+86
Answered
It is solid wood and it appears the wide piece at one end had 2 screws or nails in it at one time. The dowel fits perfectly and you can't even see a space between the dowel and the indention it goes into. This piece is also heavier than it looks. Bought it today at a yard sale for 5 cents. I appreciate any help you can offer!
anyone know what this is, repurposing upcycling, woodworking projects, This is how it would look if it could stand up on its ownl
This is how it would look if it could stand up on its ownl
anyone know what this is, repurposing upcycling, woodworking projects, I think this is the inside
I think this is the inside.
anyone know what this is, repurposing upcycling, woodworking projects, This is the outside the finish is much darker
This is the outside - the finish is much darker.
  66 answers
  • Therese C Therese C on Jun 28, 2014
    Not real sure but looks to be part of an old blanket keeper, or quilt rack? If that isn't what it is, it would make a beautiful one!
  • Barb Rosen Barb Rosen on Jun 28, 2014
    Looks like the towel rack from an old washstand (the screw holes would attach it to the back of the wash stand).
  • Laurie Knudson Laurie Knudson on Jun 28, 2014
    I'm with Barb, It's a towel rack from an old washstand.
  • Diane Friedemann Diane Friedemann on Jun 28, 2014
    Yes, this is probably the towel bar off a washstand
  • Lori Jackson Lori Jackson on Jun 28, 2014
    It is the rack from a dry sink or wash stand.
  • Kitchen Kelli Kitchen Kelli on Jun 28, 2014
    Thanks everyone! That gives me an idea of how to use it! I appreciate y'all taking the time to answer for me!
  • Annette C Annette C on Jun 28, 2014
    That was what I thought it was, the towel rack from a wash stand.... look's similar to the one on mine...
  • Rhonda Nusom Rhonda Nusom on Jun 29, 2014
    Mirror frame.Have a mirror installed,
    • P.j. C P.j. C on Jun 29, 2014
      @Rhonda Nusom No, it's a towel rack for an antique washstand.
  • Linda Adams Linda Adams on Jun 29, 2014
    It sort of looks like the frame for a dresser mirror.
  • Janet Harris Janet Harris on Jun 29, 2014
    I believe that is a "Harp" or towel bar from the back of an old wash stand. There would have been a pitcher & bowl on the stand with the harp attached to the back of the stand to place a towel.
  • Kathy Conley Kathy Conley on Jun 29, 2014
    I agree with Barb Rosen
  • Brenda Long Brenda Long on Jun 29, 2014
    My husband says it looks like a frame for a mirror for a dresser. He repairs and refinishes furniture and had done many many of these.
  • Cheryl T Cheryl T on Jun 29, 2014
    It goes on an old wash stand you hang your towel and washcloth on it. It goes on the top toward the back of the wash stand
  • Sharon Sharon on Jun 29, 2014
    Was wondering what dimensions were,as I first thought it might be an old single quilt rack /stand(with base piece missing ) but think wash stand rack is probably a more likely answer...
    • Kitchen Kelli Kitchen Kelli on Jun 29, 2014
      @Sharon The dimensions are 26 inches high and 29 1/2 inches wide. Thanks for asking!
  • Patches Patches on Jun 29, 2014
    @Barb Rosen that's exactly what I think it is too. I had one exactly like it.
  • Ethel G Ethel G on Jun 29, 2014
    a quilt rack
  • Denise H Denise H on Jun 29, 2014
    it's off of a washstand, the towel rack
  • Tris Smith Tris Smith on Jun 29, 2014
    Washstand top
  • Lou Crabtree Lou Crabtree on Jun 29, 2014
    Pretty sure it IS the towel. Bar from a vintage wash stand
  • Jennifer Jennifer on Jun 29, 2014
    It goes on top of a old wash stand to hold the towel. I have one just like it.
  • Leamorris Leamorris on Jun 29, 2014
    It's a towel rack off of an old oak wash stand.,
  • Dale Weakley Dale Weakley on Jun 29, 2014
    Towel rack from antique wash stand. I used to own one. Could be put on a dresser or recycled for another purpose..great deal for 5 cents!
    • Kitchen Kelli Kitchen Kelli on Jun 29, 2014
      @Dale Weakley Thanks! I was just talking ot my husband about what we could do with it!
  • Shirley S Shirley S on Jun 29, 2014
    Back of an antique washstand. I have two of them.
  • Angelia Christenson Angelia Christenson on Jun 29, 2014
    I was gonna say tie rack till i saw the washstand answers. My washstand has towel racks on each side but other larger ones had these instead of mirrors.
  • Chris Sabol Chris Sabol on Jun 29, 2014
    I would love to have that piece...I have an old washstand and apparently years ago someone took the towel rack off. Sure would love to find one like you did!
  • Khg320372 Khg320372 on Jun 29, 2014
    From a dry sink, used for towels
  • David Hockett David Hockett on Jun 29, 2014
    It is the mount for a swivel mirror to mount on the back of a dresser
  • Kathy Borsa Kathy Borsa on Jun 29, 2014
    Looks like a towel rack for an old washstand. How do I know? My neighbor who is 93 years old has one.
  • Connie Connie on Jun 29, 2014
    It holds a mirror, goes on a dresser. An old dresser
  • LJ Elliott LJ Elliott on Jun 29, 2014
    My son bought an old dresser with one like this to make into an "island" in the kitchen for his girl...took off towel rack...hung on wall above the island.. added 3 more dowels...she has an awesome spice rack,for tons of spices....so neat !!! Also added hooks along bottom for coffee mugs...
  • LJ Elliott LJ Elliott on Jun 29, 2014
    .
  • Shari Veater Shari Veater on Jun 29, 2014
    WOW! You got the bargin of the year with that piece :)
    • Kitchen Kelli Kitchen Kelli on Jun 29, 2014
      @Shari Veater I know! But most sales here are pretty reasonable - I just happened to drive up to a sale in the last few minutes of a 3 day run!
  • Karen M Karen M on Jun 29, 2014
    I'm voting that it is a towel bar also - which would have been attached to a wash stand. The wash stand would have a place for a large pitcher and bowl, a soap dish, sometimes a hair receptacle and often a thunder jar, a drinking vessel possibly a hat pit holder. At least that is what sits on mine now! Enjoy - do something fun with it
  • Carol Nicholl Carol Nicholl on Jun 29, 2014
    The rack off of a dry sink
  • Lisa Myers Lisa Myers on Jun 29, 2014
    Towel bar from a vintage dry sink.
    • See 1 previous
    • Lisa Myers Lisa Myers on Jun 29, 2014
      @Kitchen Kelli You're more than welcome! Post pictures when you get it finished! :)
  • Emma Santoro-Adkison Emma Santoro-Adkison on Jun 29, 2014
    Im with mirror.
  • Comet Comet on Jun 29, 2014
    Mirror holders were more often curved and had a slot or holes for the mounting hardware for the heavy old plate glass mirrors. IF there is wear to the bar where towels and small items were hung to dry over time then I go for wash stand drying rack. They would hang linens; handkerchiefs; stockings---all other small stuff that they did not hang on the line in case it got bleached or wafted off.
  • Cheryl Jones Cheryl Jones on Jun 29, 2014
    It actually looks like the back to an old Wash Stand. I had one from my grandmother and it looks just like this. The dowel at the top is to hang a towel on. Dates back to around the mid 1800's.
  • LInda Pemberton LInda Pemberton on Jun 29, 2014
    I agree that it looks like the top of a dry sink wash stand.
  • Sherry Cook Sherry Cook on Jun 29, 2014
    was a mirror in it
  • Linda Linda on Jun 29, 2014
    It's the top of a dry sink. Majority rules.
  • Kim Proul Kim Proul on Jun 29, 2014
    top to dry sink, to hold towels
  • Elizabeth Elizabeth on Jun 29, 2014
    It could make a cool quilt stand for display.
  • JESS JESS on Jun 29, 2014
    looks like EITHER table legs. OR a hurdle for TRACK AND FIELD.
  • Kelly B Kelly B on Jun 29, 2014
    I'll by it from you for 10 cents!
    • Kitchen Kelli Kitchen Kelli on Jun 29, 2014
      @Kelly B that would be great except the shipping to GA would cost a little more! :)
  • How333304 How333304 on Jun 29, 2014
    IT' s a towel bar for a wash stand.....a small piece of furniture similar to a small dresser. A large bowl and water pitcher sat on top and towels would hang on the bar....pre indoor bathrooms...
  • Sherry Cook Sherry Cook on Jun 29, 2014
    It originally held a mirror, have seen them before
  • C C on Jun 29, 2014
    Like many others have already said.... it's the top {back} of a dry wash stand
    • Janet Baack Janet Baack on Jun 30, 2014
      @C I have one of these and we call it a commode. It was used in a bedroom and in the large door on the right is where the pan was placed when done. Most of the pans were enamel. The other drawers linens were kept. The bar is where the towels were hung to dry. I have seen the dresser part at antique stores from $200.00 and up. Hope this helps you
  • Brenda Webster Brenda Webster on Jun 29, 2014
    I have one just like it in my kitchen, attached to an antique wash stand.
  • Melinda Edwards Melinda Edwards on Jun 29, 2014
    My answer is the same, goes on top of an antique wash stand, dresser, dry sink, or whatever you might call it. We used the entire piece as a dresser for my daughter's room and hung two cute little cotton towels on the line. You could use the dowel to hang necklaces, scarves, and so many other interesting things.
    • Kitchen Kelli Kitchen Kelli on Jun 29, 2014
      @Melinda Edwards What a great idea! I have a huge collection of scarves and they are almost unmanageable - I even have a place in my closet to put it! Thanks!
  • Mae Mae on Jun 29, 2014
    Towel rack for a dry sink
  • MikkiGirl MikkiGirl on Jun 29, 2014
    I agree -towel rack for dry sink.
  • Dana O'Neill Studer Dana O'Neill Studer on Jun 29, 2014
    I agree with Howe. Its a towel hanger. It was mounted on a dresser and u put your pitcher & wash bowl on there.
  • Kate Colvin Kate Colvin on Jun 30, 2014
    Its is a towel rack. Some parts of the country call them dry sinks or dresser. I have one from the 1880's and it was called a commode stand. In the picture by Cari you see on the right side bottom is where the chamber pot went. On the top was a water basin and pitcher with the towel(s) on the rack. Mine is a bit fancier with a mirror and towel rack.
  • Kelly Fortier Kelly Fortier on Jun 30, 2014
    I asked my mom ( whom best from an older generation) she said back in the earlier days they use to screw this to the back of a dresser to dry linens on! Hope that helps! I love your canisters in the kitchen yet I don't know how to find them to c how u made them. Could u help me please! Kellyfortier217@live.com
    • Kitchen Kelli Kitchen Kelli on Jul 01, 2014
      @Kelly Fortier Hi! Thank you for your mom's information - and yes, I will send you an email right now - I will send a link or you can just ask me questions!!
  • Patty Patty on Jun 30, 2014
    Around here they are called wash stands, you would hang towels on the dowels and have a pitcher of water and a bowl and that is where you would wash up.
  • Linnea Blakley Panos Hood Linnea Blakley Panos Hood on Jun 30, 2014
    Towel rack for a dry sink
  • Rebecca Platt Rebecca Platt on Jun 30, 2014
    Yes, it goes on a dresser. I have an antique dresser that has this exact same piece. I'm pretty sure it didn't have a mirror. I t was meant to hold towels and towels were hung on the bar.
  • Angelia Christenson Angelia Christenson on Jul 01, 2014
    Watch Young guns...they have them in that movie in the "house of ill reput" with bowls and pitchers sitting on the top and old flour sack towels hanging from them. (Tombstone has tthem as well)
  • Rebecca McDurmon Wilson Rebecca McDurmon Wilson on Jul 05, 2014
    Top of old wash stand.
  • Gregoire Bleuzen Gregoire Bleuzen on Jul 06, 2014
    Perhaps it is a dryer rack for towels, etc.
  • Victoria Victoria on Oct 07, 2014
    Could it be a quilt stand?
    • Kitchen Kelli Kitchen Kelli on Oct 07, 2014
      @Victoria It could be - I'm not sure, but I still have it - it's still interesting looking to me!
  • Ingeborg Goud Ingeborg Goud on Oct 08, 2014
    The Holder for quilts .. there seems to be a dresser missing
  • Brenda Webster Brenda Webster on Oct 08, 2014
    I have one just like it, attached to my antique wash stand. People would keep a large bowl, a pitcher of water, towels, soap and shaving stuff on it so they could wash up. Back before bathrooms.
    • Dixie Dixie on Nov 13, 2016
      Brenda, I believe you are correct. That was my guess also. I used to do a lot of antiquing and that's exactly what one looks like.
  • Pennymoore74 Pennymoore74 on Apr 17, 2016
    Yes I agree it is the top of an old washstand. It was used to hold a towel...
  • Ann|The Apple Street Cottage Ann|The Apple Street Cottage on Jan 15, 2023

    It's part of a washstand. It connected to the back for hanging a towel.
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