The Mystery of the Stone Bowl in the Shower Finally Makes Sense
What did an old Portuguese stone pia serve to accomplish?
A Portuguese stone pia was created to be functional. It wasn’t designed for aesthetics. It was designed to endure.
Many pias featured wide walls with irregular rim edges and simply bored drain holes. Each pia reflected years of wear and tear on its surface. That same hand-made appearance exists with the stone pia in the picture. The rough exterior and chipped edge along with its heavy build suggests it once performed an actual function prior to the construction of the surrounding bathroom.
Prior to modern plumbing being available in nearly all rooms within a home, households utilized water much differently. This type of basin may have been located in a courtyard or kitchen where residents would bathe, clean and prepare meals. It represented a significant part of their day-to-day routine.
