If you are wondering where to find 1970s console sink reproductions, you are chasing one of the most charming fixtures of the decade. The console sink — a porcelain basin carried on slender chrome or brass legs, often with a towel bar and a lower shelf — defined the 1970s bathroom. It looked light and airy where a vanity cabinet felt heavy, and it showed off the era’s love of exposed chrome, coloured porcelain, and clean geometry. Originals are scarce and often chipped, so reproductions have become the sensible route for a retro renovation. Several specialist makers, salvage dealers, and mainstream retailers now produce faithful versions — the trick is matching the source to your budget and timeline.
What Counts as a True 1970s Console Sink
Before you start shopping, it helps to know what you are actually looking for. A genuine 1970s console sink typically has a rectangular or gently rounded porcelain basin, usually 24 to 30 inches wide, mounted on two front legs with a wall bracket at the back. Many models include a chrome towel rail across the front and a glass or porcelain shelf below. Colours matter: the decade favoured avocado green, harvest gold, almond, and soft blue alongside classic white. A faithful reproduction keeps the proportions right — a basin depth of around 18 to 20 inches and a rim height of roughly 32 to 34 inches — and uses vitreous china rather than thin ceramic. Check whether the reproduction takes standard 4-inch or 8-inch widespread taps, because some imported models use metric fittings that complicate installation. If the listing mentions “console sink legs sold separately,” budget another 80 to 150 dollars for the leg set.
Specialist Bathroom Makers: The Most Faithful Reproductions
The best place to start is a specialist heritage bathroom manufacturer. Companies such as Signature Hardware, Kingston Brass, and Whitehaus Collection all produce console sinks modelled directly on 1970s originals, and their catalogues let you filter by width, colour, and leg finish. Signature Hardware’s 30-inch console sink in white vitreous china, for example, typically retails between 450 and 700 dollars including legs, while Kingston Brass offers a similar footprint in the 350 to 550 dollar range. These makers also sell matching porcelain in period colours — almond and biscuit are common, while true avocado or harvest gold usually requires a special order and adds four to six weeks to delivery. The advantage of buying from a specialist is support: you get a proper specification sheet, a warranty of at least one year, and replacement parts if a leg bracket fails. Ask whether the basin is pre-drilled for your tap configuration before ordering, and confirm the drain assembly is included, as some listings price it separately at 40 to 90 dollars.
Etsy and eBay: Vintage-Style Makers and Salvaged Originals
Etsy is a strong second stop, particularly for handcrafted and small-batch reproductions. Search for “1970s console sink reproduction” and filter by sellers with at least 100 sales and a rating above 4.5 stars. You will find artisan workshops in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Portugal offering porcelain basins with powder-coated or polished chrome legs, often in the 300 to 800 dollar range depending on size and colour. Read the listing carefully: some sellers ship the basin only, expecting you to source legs locally. eBay is better for salvaged originals than for reproductions, and it rewards patience. Set up a saved search with alerts for “1970s console sink” and “vintage console sink legs” and be prepared to wait several weeks for the right piece. Originals in good condition often sell for 200 to 500 dollars, but factor in freight — a porcelain basin is heavy and fragile, and specialist courier costs can add 100 to 200 dollars.
Salvage Yards and Architectural Reclamation
If authenticity matters more than convenience, architectural salvage yards are worth the trip. Reclamation yards in larger cities regularly stock 1970s bathroom suites pulled from renovations, and a console sink is one of the easier pieces to find intact because the basin itself is so robust. Prices are usually lower than reproductions — expect 100 to 350 dollars for a basin with legs — but condition varies enormously. Inspect the glaze under good light for crazing, check that both legs are present and matching, and measure the fixing centres before you buy. One caution: a salvaged sink may not meet modern plumbing codes in your area without a new waste trap and updated tap holes, so budget 50 to 120 dollars for a plumber to adapt the fittings.
Mainstream Retailers and Custom Orders
Do not overlook mainstream home improvement retailers. Wayfair, Build.com, and Home Depot all carry console sinks from brands like Barclay Products and Cheviot, with prices starting around 300 dollars for a basic 24-inch model. These are not always marketed as “1970s reproductions,” so search by style terms — “retro console sink,” “vintage console sink,” or “chrome leg sink” — rather than by decade. The advantage here is speed: most models ship within a week, returns are straightforward, and customer reviews flag common problems such as wobbly legs or thin porcelain. If you want a specific period colour that no retailer stocks, a custom order is possible. Several porcelain workshops will glaze a white basin in avocado, harvest gold, or sky blue for an additional 150 to 300 dollars, with a lead time of six to eight weeks. That is a significant premium, but for a faithful 1970s scheme it can be the difference between a bathroom that nods to the decade and one that truly lives in it.
Our Top Picks
The heritage specialist reproduction. A 30-inch vitreous china basin on polished chrome legs from a dedicated heritage bathroom maker, with a matching towel rail and glass shelf. The most faithful option, with proper specifications and a warranty, and the best choice if you want a fit-and-forget installation.
The Etsy artisan basin in a period colour. A handcrafted porcelain console sink in avocado or almond from a small workshop, paired with brass legs for warmth. Ideal when colour is the priority and you are happy to wait a few weeks for a made-to-order piece.
The salvaged original with new fittings. A genuine 1970s basin rescued from a reclamation yard, fitted with new chrome legs and a modern waste trap. The most characterful and often the cheapest route, best suited to renovators who enjoy the hunt and have a good plumber on call.
Measuring, Fitting, and Final Checks
Whatever source you choose, measure twice. Confirm the width of the wall space, the position of the existing waste pipe, and the height of the water supply lines — a console sink offers no cabinet to hide awkward pipework, so exposed chrome supply lines and a decorative bottle trap, usually 60 to 100 dollars, are part of the look. With the right source and a careful measure, a reproduction console sink can anchor a retro bathroom for decades — and you will have paid a fraction of what a perfect original would cost.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings