December 16, 2006

Conjure Up Images Of Ancient Rome With A Roman Bathtub

Roman bathtubs is a term that can mean several different things:

  • According to one definition, Roman bath tubs have the filler spout rising from the deck of the tub, rather than through the side.
  • Another definition of Roman bathtubs simply calls any center-fill bathtub (having the faucet in the middle of a long side, versus on the end) a Roman bathtub.
  • Generally, Roman tubs are deeper than the average American bathtub and designed only as a soaking bathtub, with no shower or jets built in.
  • Some bathtub manufacturers also refer to Roman bathtubs as free standing, that is, above ground, resting on legs or a pedestal. This particular style is usually oversized and catered more to the high-end market.

The Roman bathtub style is hard to find these days "? only a handful of manufacturers still make them nowadays, notably Galaxy Aquatics. Second-hand Roman tubs can be found sometimes.Roman-spout faucets or fillers are more commonly found "? this term simply refers to deck mounted faucets. Online retailers like AbsoluteHome have a large selection of Roman tub faucets.

The name refers back to the original baths of the ancient Romans, who had built up bathing and baths as an art form and a cultural expression. While today's Roman style tubs are somewhat different than the ones from ancient times, the name "Roman bath tubs" has stuck with us.