Decorating with Antique Shaving Stands

Antique shaving stands were narrow and tall. Made of wood, and sometimes cast iron, they often had an adjustable mirror on the top that allowed Victorian gentlemen of means to care for their personal grooming needs comfortably. There might be a couple of drawers and storage in the stand so that razors, strops, and other supplies could be stored conveniently and easily.

Another type of shaving stand was three legged with a shelf on the bottom and a cut out to hold a pitcher and bowl in the top. A moveable mirror could be adjusted as needed. These simple stands are sometimes misrepresented at wash stands in antique stores today. These stands were popular in the Edwardian Era into mid century, or from about 1900 to 1930.

Dresser Top Shaving Stands

Dresser top shaving stands were about 18 inches high with a mirror and a storage drawer. They were meant to be placed on the dresser or held in the lap when shaving.

Like many items from this era, shaving stands were often ornate and heavily carved.

If you are lucky enough to have inherited or purchased one of these stands they are perfect as an accent piece in bedrooms, bathrooms, and even that narrow area in the hallway that needs a little bit of spark. Placed near the front door the stand can provide a mirror for a last check of your makeup, as well as hold a basket for the mail. They provide a little added storage while giving your home the antique ambiance that you are looking for.

If you have a larger stand with closed shelving you can use it to store towels or shampoo and bath items in your bathroom or DVDs, cds, books, and other small items in the bedroom.

The portable stands can be used to hold jewelry and other small items on top of a dresser or dressing table. You can place one on the bathroom counter to display antique bathroom items, for storage of small things like cosmetics, or purely as a decorative item with a small floral arrangement on the top.

Generally it is best not to refinish an antique with normal wear. Most collectors love the old, imperfect look of stain and varnish that is worn, slightly scratched, or even chipped. Always talk to an appraiser or expert antique dealer to get their opinion before undertaking such a task. If you do refinish your piece then try to match the original stain as closely as possible. While painting an antique white seems to be very popular currently it will, in most cases, render the piece totally worthless.

If your stand is missing antique knobs, pulls, hinges or other hardware you should look on eBay and other places that carry antique hardware for an exact match. If you can't find an exact match then get all new hardware in a style that compliments the era of the piece.

For example, an Art Deco Bakelite drawer pull from 1927 will not look right on a heavily carved Eastlake mahogany stand from 1897.

Try to look at several images of stands to get an idea of what is appropriate for yours.

The local antique shops are always good places to find stands but because of the one of a kind nature of antiques you will have to search diligently and often to find what you are looking for.

Internet Shopping

Another way to find the stand that you want is to keep an eye on the Internet venues. While you won't get a chance to give the piece a thorough examination you will be able to have more of a selection. Just remember that shipping charges can really add up.

Some places to look are:

• Ruby Lane
• Tias
• eBay
• Newel
• Old Plank Road
• Antiques.com

You should always ask questions and make sure you understand the seller's shipping policies and charges before you buy. Check the guarantee as well; you don't want to get stuck with something that was misrepresented. Read the descriptions carefully, at least twice, and always check feedback.

The cost of a shaving stand can vary a lot depending on where you buy it and the individual characteristics of the stand. Some things that affect value are:

• Age
• Area
• Condition
• Consumer demand
• Intricacy of detail
• Uniqueness of design

You may be able to find simple, country shaving stands for as little as $50.00 on back roads antique shops in the Midwestern part of the country while in large urban areas fine examples of Victorian shaving stands may go for upwards of $2,000.00. Decide before you begin to shop how much you can afford to spend and stick to your budget.

Displaying beautiful examples of antique furniture can be a great way to decorate your home whether it is historic or modern.