That Sinking Feeling. My Obsession With Finding The Perfect Antique Sink Has Reached It's Peak

I want to be upfront from the start and confess that I have spent an obscene amount of time over the years obsessing about, fantasising over and stalking sinks.

I am not proud of it but we all have our weak spots, and I am not ashamed to admit that mine comes in the form of this humble utility item.

I am all about the sinks. Big old laundry ones, crackle glazed beaten up butlers, heavier than your car stone beasts, I’m sold.

So often in modern kitchen designs this wonderfully practical essential is overlooked and generic in style and size. Things need to fit (600cm to slide in next to the dishwasher and the mega fridge) and look discreet, often practically hidden. That is a travesty in my eyes.

When seeking inspiration I am always drawn to the spaces that make a big deal of its ‘basics’. I love a big rustic salt glazed basin taking up too much space. I have no issue with exposed plumbing or an ad hoc mix of ages and styles. I have no desire for things to feel streamline or cohesive. Perhaps I am harking back to an aesthetic when practical didn’t mean boring and mass produced, but unique and full of character. I guess what I am trying to say is… let the sink do the talking. Make it a showstopper, not a wallflower.

The common sink is my first port of call when thinking of kitchen design. I have been known to hoard them in the garden for years. Trust me when I say finding the ‘good stuff’ at an affordable price involves some serious detective work and an ability to spot a diamond in the rough.

One of my most asked questions about Little Mill Abergavenny is where did I source ‘that sink’, and I wish I could say it was easy, but in all honesty it wasn’t. It was a 7 month long obsessional deep dive into the murky underbelly of auctions, Ebay, Facebook Marketplace ( brace yourselves) and stalking house clearances.

I have become an expert in spotting the right shape, condition and patina from a grainy upside down image taken on a ancient Nokia on a local selling platform. It’s probably why I now need glasses, but it’s been worth it. Finding a hidden antique in all the digital undergrowth is sadly the sort of thing I live for.

I realised that although I definitely do not need any more of these porcelain wonders, this hasn’t stopped me looking for them. I have found myself with endless ‘saved’ items and nothing to do with them, so here we go.

I have compiled a list of some of my favourite sinks currently on the market. Not from big commercial stores but in the back alleys, sheds, gardens and garages of the general public, because so often that is where the good stuff hides.

I have included some antique dealers and more polished establishments because the sinks were too good to overlook and I would love someone to own them, but be prepared to pay some higher prices

Before we begin, some things to bare in mind

• The photos are god awful, but don’t be put off. I won’t sugar coat it these sellers are putting minimal effort into the aesthetics, but if you can snap up a antique for 50 quid, I am willing to over look it.

• Most of the ones listed require some blue sky thinking. These are not the polished final product but the best ones aren’t. Most will have been left outside for years, or in some crusty shed so try to look past that and imagine the finished result.

• Be prepared to do some basic cosmetic work but accept the condition. Honestly most will just need a good old deep clean. We are not sourcing these antiques with the expectation of perfection. The crackled glaze, small chips and odd light staining are all part of the character.

• I have mainly tried to keep to lower budget finds, because that’s where I feel you can really work wonders and still have some funds left over for great taps ( that’s a whole other post)