water bench

plural water benches

1. historicalA type of antique, rustic furniture commonly associated with Pennsylvania Dutch or Early American design.

   This classic Pennsylvania water bench has the construction and form indicative of the mid-19th century. Long and narrow, the feet are beautifully scalloped and affixed to the top by way of a triple mortise.

   2020s, Jeff R. Bridgeman, “LONG PENNSYLVANIA WATER BENCH WITH TRIPLE-MORTISED CONSTRUCTION AND BEAUTIFULLY SCALLOPED LEGS, CA 1850”, in American Antiques

   3 more examples

   The small size of the Pennsylvania water bench suggests its modern use as a dresser, although it was originally made to support pails of water in the kitchen or the wash-shed. In the usual water bench there is a cupboard base, a broad top, and above that a shelf which often has three small shallow drawers just below it.

   1933 August 27, Walter Rendell Storey, “ITALY'S INFLUENCE IN CLASSICAL ROOMS; Her Furniture of the Eighteenth Century Much in Demand By Decorators”, in The New York Times

   This is a photo of an antique pine bench that belonged to my parents when they lived in Florida. When they gave it to me, they told me it was a water bench. It is approximately 17 inches high and 33 inches wide. Although I think it has been refinished, there are signs of it being used over the years.

   2019 November 22, Anne McCollam, “Water Bucket Bench Sat Outside the Kitchen”, in Creators

   A water bench is a simple utility piece of furniture intended to store water. A water bench consisted of a lower closed cupboard and a single upper shelf with one or multiple drawers resting on bracket feet or simple boot jack feet.

   Unknown, Nazia Safi, “Water Bench”, in Worth Point

   Synonyms: bucket bench, milk bench