Just Add Water

When is a bathtub not a bathtub? When it's a one-of-a-kind work of art or a model of technology. Here are some of the latest examples that turn bathing into an artistic experience.

Filed under: Bathtubs, Whirlpool Tubs

St. Petersburg Times

Is it a flying saucer? Your personal flotation device for the latest water ride at Disney? None of the above. It's the Vizion, a free-standing whirlpool tub from Jacuzzi. It has a 10-inch flat screen TV, a DVD/CD player, an AM/FM stereo and four speakers, all of which can be controlled from a floating remote. There are four neck jets and six body jets, and the tub accommodates two. Available in a limited edition at $20,000 each, signed and numbered by Roy Jacuzzi himself.

Simple gifts, anyone? The discreet and plain-living Shakers might not know quite what to make of this bathtub, which evokes their clean-lined furniture. The free-standing tub for two is supported by Shaker-style legs that hold the tub above the floor like a piece of furniture. The frame comes in maple ($2,500) or cherry ($2,800); the tub ($1,400) comes in white and linen. A matching toilet and lavatory are available.

It's really wood, and "It's not fragile. You can use it day in and day out," spokesman Nicolas Moreau says of these wooden tubs from Image, made from African iroko and American maple and oak. The wood's natural resin is extracted, then epoxy resin is injected, and the finished piece is sealed with eight coats of varnish. The tub is $25,000; sinks range from $3,500 to $4,500. Clean them with soap and water. They've been sold in Europe and Japan since 1988. Says Moreau: "They're not just for looks." Find them online at pscraftsmanship.com.

Hand-carved from a block of granite, this tub's interior and rim are polished; the exterior is chiseled. A 6-foot tub, weighing 2,500 pounds, is $12,000; a 5-foot tub, weighing 1,800 pounds, is $10,000. Tubs can be made to customers' specifications. This is from Stone Forest in Santa Fe, N.M. Web site: www.stoneforest.com.