Roseland Cottage

Wash Sets

Prior to running water and the modern sink, wash sets were essential parts of daily health practices. At Roseland Cottage, a number of these sets survive. Each bedroom typically had a washstand and wash set. The Roseland Cottage washstands have marble tops with storage underneath. The wash set in the Presidents’ Room consists of a large bowl, a large and a small pitcher, a soap dish, a mug, a shaving mug, a toothbrush holder, a large waste water vessel, and a chamber pot. A servant brought the large pitcher filled with hot water and the small pitcher filled with cold water to the bedroom. One filled the bowl with hot water and added cold water to achieve a comfortable temperature. Later, a servant returned to tidy the space.