The first clawfoot tub in history
Before the rubber ducky
The first clawfoot tub discovered in history was found on the island of Crete and dates back approximately 3000 years. Five feet long, this ancestor of the modern clawfoot tub was crafted of hard pottery.
Many of the first bathtubs and plumbing in the United States were made of wood or, once settlers traveled to the West, porcelain over cast iron. The cast iron clawfoot tub was created in the Victorian era, when bathing more often became popularized.
American clawfoot tub history
The J.L. Mott Ironworks Company is credited with being the first company to produce a cast iron clawfoot tub with an enamel interior in 1873. Clawfoot tubs quickly became popular because their hard enamel surface could be cleaned easily and did not harbor bacteria. Also, this was an affordable way for people to bathe.
Powdered enamel was heated to very high temperatures and poured over the cast iron clawfoot tub to create a smooth, slippery, glass-like surface in which to bathe. A cast iron clawfoot tub could weigh anywhere between 250 to 400 pounds. Cast iron clawfoot tubs were produced in the United States until the 1930s, when built-in bathtubs became the standard.
The bold look of clawfoot tubs
Once called the Sheboygan Union Iron and Steel Company, Kohler Co. initially manufactured cast iron and steel implements for farmers. In 1883, the Kohler Company produced an item that they marketed in their catalog as a horse trough/hog scalder that could serve as a bathtub when legs were added. This was the beginning of a long and successful clawfoot tub history for Kohler, which is still a premier company that produces plumbing supplies.
Today, many home decorators have started looking into history for elegant design inspiration. The cast iron clawfoot tub, one of the most stylish bathtubs in decorating history, has seen a reemergence in popularity. Because they are so heavy and can be expensive, many homeowners have opted for a less-expensive acrylic version of the clawfoot tub.