Originally called a “bowl sink”, the vessel sink is a type of free-standing sink that is mounted to sit directly on top of a surface. Instead of more traditional drop-in sinks that are mounted into a countertop or underneath it, the vessel sink sits above the surface and is not installed into it in order to create an elevated basin.
They gained mass popularity in the late 2000s and come in a variety of materials. Although ceramic and glass tend to be the most common materials used for vessel sinks, there are other options available including marble, natural stone, concrete, copper, stainless steel, wood, and more.