Pam here. Since Jan. 1, I’ve been tenaciously focused on doing a lot of technical clean up of the blog. This has included going through stories in draft form. And ack! How did I not publish this one? It wasn’t a draft — it was finished and waiting for me! Kate completed it more than two years ago as part of our series about the history of various colors used in bathroom sinks, toilets and tubs. Hence, Kate gets the byline all these many months later! So let’s see her take us through the color lavender in bathroom sinks, bath tubs and toilets in the 20th Century. – Pam >>
The color purple in 20th Century bathroom fixtures
Purple is one of those hues that is either loved or loathed when it comes to home decor — a color even more polarizing than pink. So it should be no surprise that it’s not easy to find a lot of examples of pastel lavender bathroom fixtures in the historical resources we tap. Diving in, I found evidence of lilac / lavender / light purple sinks, tubs and toilets in catalogs spanning 1927 to 1949. But then, we also have some reader and other examples of 1960s bathrooms with lilac bathroom fixtures — so they must have endured to some degree beyond.
Let’s take a look at what we find in the catalogs:
Kohler — 1927 Lavender
A few years ago, Pam wrote about the very first year — 1927 — that Kohler offered its bathroom fixtures in colors besides white. “Lavender” was in the new palette — but is it pink or purple? You be the judge.
Above: Lavender fixtures from a 1928 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Above: We see Kohler’s color lineup 1936 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org which offered a both a distinct pink and Lavender. Lavender appears to have been a focus color as indicated by the larger swatch size above.
Above: In this 1948 Kohler catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org, we see the whole palette for the year, which includes Lavender. However, by 1949 Peachblow’s popularity overtook that of Lavender and I no longer saw it in Kohler’s color lineup.
You can see by this extensive color timeline on Kohler’s website, that once Lavender was dropped from the color lineup in the 1940’s it was out for good, even while other colors such as pink, blue and green ducked in and out of their color history.
American Standard Lavender — Orchid of Vincennes spotted in 1930
Above images: 1930 American-Standard Orchid of Vincennes bathroom fixtures from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
Eljer — Royal Orchid spotted in 1939
Pam spotted this 1939 Eljer catalog in the MBJ Collection on archive.org that lists ‘Royal Orchid’ as one of their offerings.
Crane — Lavender spotted in 1940
In 1940, Crane offered a Lavender along with Orchid Pink, India Ivory, Citrus Yellow, Pale Jade, and Sun Tan as part of their lineup. Images above from: 1940 Crane catalog from the MBJ collection/archive.org.
But… I spy a 1970s Kohler purple tub:
But wait! We DID see a lavender or purple or lilac by any other name would be so sweet among the new old stock featured in this story! But but but it’s not on their timeline! Unless… is that really the Pink Champagne” as also seen in the back of the photo but with the color doing funny things on camera?
Lavender bathrooms in readers’ houses
Above: Sarah has a lavendar bathroom in her Gilbert Spindel ‘Round House’.
Okay, it’s tile not fixtures, but it’s lavendar in Alexa’s father’s 1951 apartment.
And here’s another vintage Lavender bathroom sighting was featured on the blog: This 1960s bathroom that was discovered because the owner was doing some remodeling in their kitchen and bathrooms and was willing to sell these vintage parts on Craigslist.
For those hoping to recreate their own purple potty palace, remember: Because Lavender is such a rare midcentury bathroom color, if you do happen to spot a grouping of fixtures and accessories out in the wild at your local ReStore or salvage yard, it is best not to think about it too long, because who knows when another lavender fixture — let alone a set — will show up.
See our other stories about vintage bathroom colors:
- The color green in kitchens and bathrooms sinks, tubs and toilets from 1928-1962
- The color pink in bathroom sinks, tubs and toilets – from 1927-1962
- The color blue in bathroom sinks, tubs, and toilets from from 1927-1962
- The color beige in bathroom fixtures 1927-1962
- The color red in bathroom fixtures through 1950
Sabina Lewis says
I had a lavender tub in my house in New Orleans. We called it K&B purple but it most closely matched the top right swatch, 1st picture. I’m sure there was a toilet to match at one time but alas, not for me. My neighbor had a green tub and was able to get a matching toilet from another neighbor. We had good salvage yards there too, I was always looking for a replacement. I like colorful bathrooms.
CarolK says
Crane’s Lavender is my favorite of the lavenders.
Pam, any clue as to why lavender seems to have been a late 20s-30s phenomena and not so much later on?
Pam Kueber says
I tend to think… it wasn’t as good a seller.
Lynne says
I wonder if it was unflattering?? A pink bathroom, on the other hand casts a flattering glow.
CarolK says
Lynne, you might be right about it being unflattering and that might have led to its being less popular. I did see some wallpaper or maybe curtains with tiny lavender flowers on it once and that it lovely.
Ree says
My parents bought a house in 1965 that was brand new. The master bathroom had a cinderealla tub and all of the fixtures, and the wall tiles were pink. The hall bathroom had lavender/purple fixtures, and the vanity counter top was white with gold sparkle flecks in it. Both bathrooms had gas wall heaters, and they were also color coordinated in pink and purple. My mother loved that house, and for years after they moved to a house built in the mid-70’s, she would say that she missed her colorful bathrooms.
Pam Kueber says
It sounds gorgeous!
Allison says
A lilac or lavender fixture set would be the ne plus ultra of mid century bathrooms to me, but alas! have yet to see a matched set since I started looking.
Our local Earthwise Salvage has a not-quite-matching lilac sink and toilet for sale (and at a fancy price, I might add) but you’d need some significant physical separation to make the 2 work together, so fortunately I am not tempted to rip out my matched butter yellow fixtures to replace them.
When I was a girl (this would have been late 50s or early 60s) a neighbor had lilac bathroom; it was sweet and ruffly and wonderfully feminine. Very different from our utilitarian bathroom at home.
Primrose Road says
Sorry — the plumbing fixtures were named Rheem Richmond after the original manufacturer…Rheem Ruud bought out Richmond plumbing fixtures. You’ve included them in a few features before….
Primrose Road says
How could you leave out Rheem Ruud’s ‘Misty Lilac”? They introduced a line of high-end plumbing fixtures about 1958 in different pastel colors then held regional beauty pageants to promote them…..
I’m restoring a RR bathroom that was featured in a 1958 design mag (definitely the same bathroom, down to the Murano glass fixture, Cinderella tub and planter) and will send pics when it is done. All three bathrooms were done with Rheem Ruud — misty lilac, peach, and blue.
The lilac was the guest bath and is ENORMOUS — almost as big as the guest bedroom and more than twice the size of the master bath. It’s a time capsule house and I’ve changed out only the kitchen and master bath by necessity. The kitchen had a warning from the gas company not to turn anything on and you could stand in the master bath and look thru the floor to the basement. (You could also stand in the kitchen and see the sky….5 layers of shingles had pulled the roof apart).
I’m the third owner and was told it was built by an architect as his own house. Two bedrooms, four fireplaces (the appropriate ratio) but the original documents have disappeared, so have no idea if that’s true. City historical division and building department have searched and searched but we haven’t found anything….and I’d love to know the story behind the lilac bathroom. And miss the late, great World of Tile — I pulled every bit of lavender/pink/grey tile I could find when then closed!
Pam Kueber says
Thanks for the tip, I’ll keep my eyes out for a reference to add in the future!
Paige says
My Grandmothers favorite color was purple & like they say go big or go home! My Grandmother had a purple tub, purple carpet & light purple painted walls, my cousins & I still giggle to this day when we the subject of her bathroom comes up! I should also mention it was the ONLY bathroom in the house!
Stacy says
I was lucky enough to get two original bathrooms in the 1968 ranch we bought a few years ago. One of them is lavender– tile on the walls and shower, tile on the floor, and also the built-ins ( soap dish, toothbrush holder, etc…). The sink and toilet are original , but alas, white. I love my lavender bathroom!
Dan says
That ‘Orchid of Vincennes’ bathroom had me saying ” Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!”.
WK says
I went to visit my new husband’s sister in the boondocks of New Mexico only to encounter a lavender tub . No matching toilet . He said she installed it in the 1960s . They were talking about doing a remodel but there was no way to get it back to the EAST coast It as definitely a light purple