If you are looking for a freestanding tub, you have come to the right place! We have a great selection of acrylic freestanding tubs, copper and cast iron tubs. These beautiful handcrafted bathtubs are perfect for that original antique home look and feel. These tubs have no fixtures or holes drilled into them. A wide selection of freestanding faucets are also available for your choosing!

Bathing has evolved in human civilization and has led to the present paradigms of our sauna’s spas and different bathtubs available today. It is believed that bathing originated roughly 5 thousand years ago in the ancient civilizations of India. The idea then evolved during the Greek empire as evidenced in what was probably the first version of the bathtub found in ruins of the isle of Crete.  This was one of the first freestanding tubs created by man and it was made of pottery.

But no other culture contributed more to the practice of bathing like the Ancient Romans. They had built beautiful and ornate public baths in all their cities. These incredible buildings boasted an intricate and scientifically advanced plumbing and sewage system.  One could see the remnants of these massive structures like the ruins of the public baths of Caracalla in Rome. Over 1600 bathers would enjoy this massive building where the bath ritual consisted of over 5 different stations. During roman times, most private baths had a large tub built into the room made of marble.

Bathing was popular throughout the Middle Ages and then lost its popularity by the Renaissance. It wasn’t until 1775 in England that the modern bathroom began to take shape.

Two companies in the US spearheaded the advent of the bathtub in the United States in 1883: Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company and Kohler Company. They started first building cast iron bathtubs. After WWI, ceramic tubs came into the market place and the most popular of these was the claw foot bath tubs. The claw foot tub was then transformed into the built-in modern tub in the second half of the century.

The Freestanding Bathtub

Freestanding bath tubs are not necessarily clawfoot tubs, but all clawfoot bathtubs are considered freestanding tubs. Freestanding tubs are a whole new line of beautiful and luxurious tubs that are designed specifically for the modern bathroom. Originally these tubs were designed and modeled after the Japanese osuro tubs that are found in most Japanese households. These tubs are twice as large as most regular tubs, and are designed for sitting so that the water covers you up to your neck.

Modern freestanding tubs, although designed to be similar to traditional Japanese, European, and even American bathing facilities, are anything but traditional. You will find such things as iPod connectivity, whirlpool jets, inline heaters, digital sound, and FM radios as intrinsic parts of some models. They have been made to be easy to install using standard American plumbing fixtures. Instead of fading into the background in your bath, these tubs are designed to occupy center space and are easily the focal point of any bathroom. Some tubs are incorporated into steam showers and steam rooms, and some are designed with walk-in access for anyone who is handicapped or disabled.

These modern freestanding tubs borrowed their design not only from the Japanese, but also from European and American designs. Some of them come outfitted with all the gadgets such as whirpool jets, sound systems, heaters as well as iPod connectivity.

Some freestanding bathtubs are designed using more European qualities. Of these some are designed using the lines of a boat or ship. They don’t look exactly like a ship, but they have similar a shape. A good example of this is the Munich freestanding tub. A tub like this can give your bathroom a whole new, modern and sophisticated look.

But don’t count the clawfoot tub out. The modern clawfoot bathtub has seen a resurgence lately, and is very popular with the vintage home owner. It’s good to unify your design aspects of your home. If you have a beautiful Victorian home, a modern-looking tub is going to look out of place. However, if you choose a tub designed to look like those in Victorian times but filled with the amenities of modern living, you’ll be able to get the best of both worlds.

Freestanding tubs have changed the traditional role of the modern bathtub in relation to where it is in the bathroom and now it has gained a bit higher notoriety. If you haven’t browsed freestanding tubs in recent years, do yourself a favor by taking a look. You’ll be amazed at how far these timeless bathtubs have come!