Woodys Antiques

Description

A rare French drinking water faucet. This wonderful survivor is made from walnut and mahogany with lead adornments. We bought this along with a number of other items from an English couple who have renovated an old French public building, it has had a relatively new base plinth fitted however the majority of it is in original condition. This item is for decorative purposes only as we feel that the pump although still in situ would not be terrible healthy to drink from and the pump would require additional work to get it operational. Water pumps/faucets were a common site throughout the developed world which followed the Cholera epidemic of 1854, the Metropolitan Free Drinking Fountain Association was founded in 1859, with the intention of making drinking water available for everyone, especially in the cities. Legislation was passed in the UK to make sure that the inlet pipes for water were above the sewerage outlet pipes. Simple things, but by modern standards, so important. As water fountains became more available, it was commented on by writers at the time that thousands of people would use them on a single day. They became an essential part of life up and down the country. circa 1870-90

Depth 24cm / 9.50''
Height 129cm / 50.75''
Width 37cm / 14.25''