When selling antique homes across New Hampshire, it’s the small, historical details that tell the biggest stories, and this high-tank pull-chain toilet is a perfect example!

Dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this style of toilet was once the pinnacle of modern indoor plumbing. The elevated wooden cistern, connected to the bowl by a long flush pipe, used gravity to create a powerful flush. The pull chain (often made of brass or iron) was both functional and elegant, giving homeowners a sense of luxury and sophistication. In fact, this very setup was common in Victorian and Edwardian-era homes, a time when the transition from outhouses to indoor plumbing marked a major leap in domestic comfort.

What makes this fixture special today isn't just its functionality, it’s a living relic of history. The hand-crafted wood tank, the solid brass or copper piping, and the classic porcelain bowl with woodgrain seat all speak to an era where form and function were designed to last a lifetime.

In a modern world of one-piece plastic and chrome, the high-tank toilet stands tall-literally and figuratively-as a statement of charm, craftsmanship, and continuity with the past. For antique home lovers, it's not just a bathroom fixture-it's a conversation piece that keeps history flowing.

Whether you're restoring a Federal farmhouse, a Victorian cottage, or a Gothic Revival, details like this aren’t outdated, they’re elevated.

Because every home has a story-some even in the bathroom.

Camille Craffey, NH Realtor & Antique Home Specialist