The bath or art of bathing is often attributed to the Roman civilisation although the earliest surviving bathtub dates back to 1700 B.C, and hails from the Palace of Knossos in Crete.
As far back as 3000BC the bath or bathing area was in use, not for reasons of personal hygiene, but for the religious belief that water purified the soul. The public bath could be found outside the areas of worship and attendees were required to cleanse themselves in order to purify their spirit before entering. Cold baths were common throughout Asia and steam baths were favoured in Europe and America.
The Romans indulged in daily public bathing specifically for hygiene and socialization, with lead and copper pipes to deliver the water to the communal marble bath and remove water to the sewage system. Rich Roman families had access to private bathrooms, where the shallow bath would span the entire room.
After the decline of the Roman Empire, the art of bathing continued, despite popular belief, and by the Middle Ages there is evidence of soap manufacturing. Invented in the Orient and made from mutton fat, wood ash or potash, and natural soda, soap and hot water was brought to the half-barrel shaped tub, designed for one, for the rich to undertake their personal hygiene. Examples of public baths, or "stews" for the populace have also been discovered. Chamber pots were also common in use during this period.
By the 1300’s the bath was in decline, as the population began to believe that water was the carrier of infection and disease, which could be drawn into the body through the skin. Sweat houses were introduced to replace the bath and large quantities of perfume were manufactured to mask poor hygiene.
The 19th century saw the re-introduction of the bath, but as an activity to be enjoyed alone, an enamelled cast-iron tub. John M Kohler, a manufacturer of farm equipment adapted a horse trough / hog scalder by attaching legs and marketed it as an aid to personal hygiene.
Between 1875 and 1925 huge advances were being made in engineering, allowing pipe work to be fashioned from metals to enable indoor plumbing. This created a rise in the popularity of the bath, unless you had read American journalist Henry L. Mencken’s newspaper report purporting that medical society had deemed it dangerous to the health, and that some authorities had levied a ‘bath tax’. Mencken later (8 years later) admitted that the report had been a hoax.
After World War I, as houses were being rebuilt, bathrooms were integrated into building design. Initially the traditional claw foot bath tub was installed but as technology advanced the built in, apron fronted bath replaced it allowing easier cleaning and maintenance.
As the 20th Century progressed, mass manufacturing of plastics afforded design and colour choice to the bath owner and by the 1980’s the popular ‘avocado’ bathroom suite became the fashion! This style seems to have clung to the bathroom until the end of the century.
As the 21st century dawned and electronic technology became mainstream, we were looking for more ways to incorporate the luxuries it afforded into our lives. The bathroom became more than a room for the function of personal hygiene and our expectation of the bath was to assist in relaxation and inspire stylish design. Integrated bath and shower units reduced the need for space, corner bath units and baths made for two were manufactured and personal style was invited in to the bathroom.
The whirlpools of the day spa and health club were scaled down and fitted with music capability, mood lighting and hydro jets to relax and invigorate the owner. The calming effect of water was re-discovered and the jacuzzi bath and integrated steam shower whirlpool bath were installed to meet demand.
Today’s bath is designed as much for repose as hygiene and as technology expands and consumer demand for comfort and design increases, the future of the bath will continue to develop.
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