The rustic kitchen dry sink on display in the original adobe kitchen at the Sikes Historic Farmstead gives visitors an idea of the workings of a 19th century home prior to the advent of internal plumbing. While no evidence has been uncovered to date to describe the daily kitchen activities of Eliza Sikes, having a dry sink in the kitchen would have been expected.
The displayed in the house is not original to the Sikes family but was obtained as part of the restoration of the farmhouse after the October 2007 Witch Creek Fire. Given the wear and patina of the piece, it was undoubtedly used heavily in its original home.
Just try to imagine the constant chore of pumping enough water from the well to keep the pitcher full and the task of emptying out the catch bowl as it fills up with dirty water.
Rustic Kitchen Dry Sink
A typical rustic kitchen dry sink, such as the one displayed, was a wooden cabinet with a recessed area on the top which would hold a pitcher and bowl or wash basin. More elaborate dry sinks might have installed a drain to allow the used wastewater to flow into a larger bucket underneath. The recessed area was typically painted using an enamel-based paint which would provide a degree of protection from water for the wood. A small drawer as well as a shelf or two and a handy flat working surface next to the recessed area was not unusual. Often a rack or hook to hang a towel was seen.
While most farm kitchen dry sinks were made by local carpenters using wood sourced close by, it is a sure bet that this piece was made in a North American factory sometime between 1871 and 1900. This is evident by the Mortise and Tenon joint construction technique seen in the drawer.
In 1867 Charles B. Knapp filed a patent for this different approach to the construction of drawer joints, replacing the slow handwork required for dove tail joint construction. By 1900’s, the Knapp joint had fallen out of furniture fashion with the advent of automated dovetail joint cutting and fitting.
Before running water, it was standard in any well-equipped farm home to have a dry sink in the kitchen, as well as in bedrooms. Often a thoughtful farmer’s wife would also keep one on the porch for washing up before entering the house. The uses for a dry sink in the farm kitchen were numerous, from rinsing vegetables and fruits, to washing up dishes, hands, and faces.
Be sure to ask your friendly and knowledgeable docent to point out the rustic dry sink in the kitchen of the Sikes Historic Farmstead on your next visit.
Written by: Anita Hissem, Friends of Sikes Adobe Member
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