It's very late Victorian European wash stand. They were common as grass about 30 to 40 years ago when dealers and decorators would go to Europe and load up a shipping container with antiques. I have a tile backed, marble topped one similar to yours ( but yours is prettier!) and did a bit of research when I bought it. Seems that they were a sort of spare room fixture and often found in guest houses and small country hotels.
I too think it would be a shame to butcher it, and unless you cut a hole in the marble top your vessel sink will look odd because it will be too tall. They make lovely plant stands or a side table to mix drinks.

If marble top is not orginal, then cutting hole for sink should not be a problem

Personally, I think it would be a crying shame to butcher that into a vanity.

It's very late Victorian European wash stand. They were common as grass about 30 to 40 years ago when dealers and decorators would go to Europe and load up a shipping container with antiques. I have a tile backed, marble topped one similar to yours ( but yours is prettier!) and did a bit of research when I bought it. Seems that they were a sort of spare room fixture and often found in guest houses and small country hotels.
I too think it would be a shame to butcher it, and unless you cut a hole in the marble top your vessel sink will look odd because it will be too tall. They make lovely plant stands or a side table to mix drinks.

With high quality antiques I do agree with you.

As for the fact that they were originally wash stands, I'm assuming they originally had tall bowls with water pitchers standing on it. I'm thinking of doing a nice copper bowl for the top. As the bowl would only be 5" tall, it will not be blocking the tile backsplash.

If marble top is not orginal, then cutting hole for sink should not be a problem

Why would it be a problem if it's original?

As well as cutting a hole in the marble top, you would have to also cut holes in the bottom or sides for the pipe work. Where is the faucet going? Where are the tap handles going? Even more holes in this pretty piece.

"I'm planning on putting a vessel sink on top and using it for our powder room bathroom."

Where will the faucets or faucets be mounted? You don't seem to have room for the basin and the faucets.

Vessel sinks have a lot going on that is hidden by a larger vanity that would be exposed if that wash stand were converted. Are you OK with visible supply and drain lines, and the loss of the drawer?

I think the problem is you are destroying a 100 year old...or more...piece of furniture to make a bathroom fixture that may last for 20 years, if you or someone else doesn't change their mind before then.
To get the look, have your remodeler build a base and put a faux marble top on it. You can gussy up the cabinet with old repro hardware and even a tile backsplash. But real marble is fragile and won't like things like bathroom cleaner nor toothpaste even....and certainly things that wouldn't likely be in the bathroom...like lemon juice and vinegar.

And you could have the new piece made to the proper height and with a back to hide the pipes and the drain.

It's going in a powder room. There is no toothpaste in a powder room. I've had marble counters in my last bathroom as well as on an antique bamboo wash stand I had that my ex took, so am quite aware how to baby marble.

And yes, I could have a nice new piece made for somewhere between $500-$1500. This piece cost me $165. The drawer is barely holding together and in fact the back of the bottom of the drawer is falling apart.

Sorry but I have antiques I absolutely wouldn't cut holes in either, but this piece is not as precious. It actually looks better than it is made.

Here for example is my washstand that I would never think to cut a hole in. It's English with inlaid bone.

36" is now 'comfort height' for vanities. Have you checked the 28" height of the top of the marble to see if it's going to be comfortable to use?

"The standard height of a bathroom vanity is 32" but comfort height vanities are raised by 4" for a total height of 36"."

My 3 vanities are all ones I made using inexpensive pieces from Craigslist, and all are that height or very close. This one was $100, from a friend who used to store parts of her rock and mineral collection in it. It had been 'antiqued in the 60's and I stripped it, as I love old pine.

This one below was taken as the bath was being built, in my basement. $35.00. Wish I had a before pic. This one needed to have the painting and graining extensively touched up.

This one was sitting off to the side waiting to be installed in this pic. $65.00

My3dogs those are all gorgeous. Thanks for sharing. How lucky to have found 3 beautiful vanities.

36" is now 'comfort height' for vanities. Have you checked the 28" height of the top of the marble to see if it's going to be comfortable to use?

That's why I'm planning on using a vessel sink, so it won't feel quite as low.

"The standard height of a bathroom vanity is 32" but comfort height vanities are raised by 4" for a total height of 36"."

My DH tried it and he felt it would be fine. Since he will be using it the most, (it's by his study) and he's ok with it, if I can't figure out a way to raise it up a bit, I think it will be fine. Being a powder room I'm hoping it won't be as big an issue.

Our master and the full guest bath will definitely be 36" high.

Unfortunately I don't have a full picture of the vanity (in our last house) but this was how we solved the low washstand problem with a powder room sink. The vessel sink raised the height up & not one single person commented on it being too low, only how cute it was. When you're using something like an old piece, there can be certain compromises that can be made.

Love looking at all your pretty powder room sinks!

Thank you mfrog. I'm glad that in your real world use it wasn't a problem. That is exactly what we're thinking of doing. Having a tall sink.