Can I use a washstand as a desk?

It depends on the height and leg room. Flat-topped Victorian washstands often work well as small writing tables. You just need a chair that fits under the frieze drawer. Designs with basin cut-outs are harder to adapt. Some people fit a custom sheet of glass over the top to create a solid working surface without altering the wood.

How do I clean a marble top?

Warm soapy water usually lifts everyday dirt. Wipe it dry straight away so water does not sit on the surface.

I inherited a corner piece with a hole in the top tier and a little drawer underneath, is that missing a bowl?

Yes, that hole was cut to hold a wash bowl. The drawer below held soap or a sponge. These corner washstands were popular in Georgian homes where bedroom space was tight. They rarely turn up with their original ceramic bowls intact. Most owners track down a later basin that fits the ring, or they place a flat plate over the hole to display a vase instead.

My painted washstand has a wooden rod running horizontally across the right side panel and I wonder what that was used for originally?

That is a towel rail. Makers fixed them to the side frames so wet towels could dry after washing. It kept the damp cloth away from the painted surfaces of the main carcase. Some larger washstands have these rails on both sides. If the rod feels loose, it might just need a spot of animal glue in the socket to hold it firm again.

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Antique Washstands from the 19th Century

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Antique washstands are practical pieces of bedroom furniture designed with cut-outs or flat tops to hold a jug and basin for daily washing before indoor plumbing became standard.