That is a bench with a flower pot on the end.

Mom used to have that in the basement when I was a little boy.  She had a washing machine with a spin sort of dryer.  Every Monday was wash day.  All the clothes were washed in the same water, nice clothes first and then dad and my work clothes last.  When they came out of the wash they went into a rinse tube and from there they went into the spin drier which also had water running in it.

That bench held the tub for rinsing the clothes and held the basket mom used to climb the steps with and hang them outside.  In the winter dad hung number 9 wire in the basement for her to hang the clothes down there.

Probably more information than you wanted but asking brought back memories.

Thank you.