A Brief History Into Bathtub Materials

Posted on Friday, February 18th, 2011

At Dixie, we will be doing a series of blog posts covering the materials used to make bathtubs. Over the course of history, people have used small areas of water to bathe in privacy. Their materials have ranged from ancient wood to modern acrylic for creating relaxing experiences throughout history. In the following four posts, we will discuss why these materials were used, and how far we’ve come in creating clean, safe, and beautiful tubs for long-term, everyday use.

For most of human history, daily bathing in the modern form didn’t exist. While people washed with water, they did not have a container of water that would fit their bodies. Small springs and waterfalls were the closest people came to a modern bathing experience. In fact, it wasn’t until 5,000 years ago that the earliest evidence of a tub was found in Crete, made from hardened clay pottery. During that same time, evidence of soap-like materials was discovered in Babylon. Starting 2,000 years ago, the first evidence of daily bathing rituals using soap appeared in Rome.

Romans, famous for their public baths, created tubs from marble in their most elegant form. Both public and private baths were carved into stone. It’s not hard to imagine those of a lower social status would have made tubs from wood or hollowed trees as well. In the United States, up to a hundred years ago, wood and hollowed tree bathtubs lined with metal were standard. To this day, wooden tubs are still used in wilderness areas and to create a more earthy bathing experience.

Fortunately, with modern construction we don’t have to pay millions for a marble tub or settle for wood that will rot over time. In the following articles, we will explore materials that are still used in modern bathtub construction. From the classic look of an iron tub, to the lightweight, customizable acrylic used to create the tubs we love to use in our homes today.

Part 1: A Brief History Into Bathtub Materials

Part 2: Classic Cast Iron Clawfoot Tubs

Part 3: Gelcoat Fiberglass Tubs: A Stepping Stone To Acrylic

Part 4: Acrylic: The Best Bathtub Material History Has To Offer

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