Old faucets without mixers don’t meet modern anti scald plumbing codes. You either rebuild the original faucets, risk burning yourself, or you ditch the pedestal in favor of a modern one that works with modern mixer faucets. .

How large are the holes in the sink? It looks like a modern widespread lav faucet would work, the spigot would go in the center hole

@HALLETT & Co. is there a way to measure without taking it apart? I guess that is the next step it seems...

You have to take it apart...

Darn it! I was hoping someone had a miracle plumbing piece I've never heard of haha!

Suppose you could connect up the existing faucets. For warm-water washing, you'd have to plug the drain, fill the sink with water, wash, and then drain the sink. Would you really want to do this? If you really like the sink, I'd follow HALLET's suggestion and see if you could install a widespread faucet (example). I would guess that at minimum the center hole is too small for a modern faucet; maybe all three are.

I'd return the sink and get a modern, traditional-looking sink (example).

Many aspects of the good old days were NOT good, plumbing among them. Here's how we washed our faces using those taps; plug basin, fill basin using both taps, splash face and soap up, then using the same water in the basin - rinse face. Buy a bridge faucet for your sink.

So I grew up in a historic home, and our neighborhood is just blocks from another historic district. I do understand how the basin faucets work, and I will replace them with modern faucets if that’s what I need to do for safety (I had assumed since they can sell these old faucets on Etsy, resale markets etc without a warning than they must be safe) but I plan on keeping the separate faucets, it’s a secondary bathroom anyway. My second question still stands: is there a place that’s recommended where I can get new, antique looking faucets?

@Jake The Wonderdog yes, we had to replace knob and tube already- safety is definitely the most important

• Glacier Bay 6011-5001 Single Hole Single-Handle Low-Arc Bathroom Faucet
• Waxman 15710494 Plumbcraft Single Hole 1-Handle Bathroom Faucet

Water supply lines are not included

"I will replace them with modern faucets if that’s what I need to do for safety"

"but I plan on keeping the separate faucets"

So, which is it? You're replacing for safety or you're throwing safety out the window and keeping the faucet? It's a secondary bathroom, so any users of that bathroom are of "secondary" importance and it's not worth considering their safety? I don't get it. It's a dangerous situation, and you can make it safe and still be true to the look, but you're choosing not to.

@catbuilder I’m confused, if I purchase brand new, modern faucets (2 of them, separate hot and cold) how is that throwing safety out the window? I mentioned it was a secondary bathroom meaning no one is using it daily, and the inconvenience of filling the basin doesn’t seem like a big deal.

Something like this?

antique faucet

Hi Katy. I understood perfectly what you meant. There are many choices. I'm attaching a link from one of the plumbing suppliers.
https://www.plumbingsupply.com/clawfootbasinfaucets.html

@Amy Lynn thank you, just what I was looking for!

Brand new are not hot and cold faucets. They are mixer faucets, that mix hot and cold. Anti scald is a must for safety.

Lots of illegal faucets getting sold. Beware. If the manufacturer isn’t listed on Starcraft's site, it’s probably a no name non lead regulation compliant knockoff. http://starcraftcustombuilders.com/sources.faucets2.htm

@User I have found many hot and cold faucets that are brand new. This brand, among others I’m looking at, are on the website you posted.

Anti scald is a building code requirement. Manufacturers make all kinds of things that aren’t code compliant. We just did a wall mount tub filler and had to locate the antiscald in the crawl space because the valve we purchased didn’t have it integrated.

Kingston Brass is expletive deleted. The only source for non building code compliant faucets are the importers who know there’s no one minding the candy store anymore to check what they are importing as a “repair” exception. So you have all kinds of things that aren't lead safe, or scald safe, or GPM restrictive. Only CA cares enough to do something about it.

I didn’t realize this was such a controversial topic. My question has been answered- yes the faucets need to be replaced. I have tried twice now to delete my post, and even though I get confirmation, here it is. I will be purchasing something new from a reputable retailer. Thank you for your help.

Don't try to delete your posts: it's helpful for other people in the future who have similar dilemmas.

Katy we are restoring a historical house too, and I really like maintaining a historical look. I'm wondering if you could use a widespread faucet with the hot and cold handle on each side, with the mixer/spout in the center hole? The lever that stops the drain is useless and just for decoration. We ended up using one of the drains that 'pops' in the drain. That was how we retrofit plumbing for a salvaged sink.

We have used Kingston Brass faucets in both of our bathrooms (KB 'metropolitan' style). I'm not sure about the quality of the brand - we have had it for 5 years and only recently the cold handle started to get a little sticky. So I wouldn't rule that brand out just because they offer a one product line that may not be code in every location.

Do be aware of the lead issue as well.

I think the mixing issue is overplayed in terms of safety (set your water heater to 125).

But there's no level of lead that's safe. Some of these faucets aren't approved for sale in US and don't adhere to lead standards.