From Waterfalls to Frameless Glass Showers: A History
When you’re soaping up under a hot stream of water before you begin your day, do you ever marvel at the fact that such a modern convenience exists?
After reading how people long ago stayed clean, you probably will!
Let’s go way back to ancient civilizations around the world, who would bathe in lakes, rivers, oceans and waterfalls. Servants poured (often very cold) jugs of water over Egyptians and Romans. Public bathhouses were a common destination in many areas of the world—not only to get clean, but also to socialize.
It was the Greeks who invented the first showers, with aqueducts pumping H20 into a communal area—not exactly the frameless shower enclosures people enjoy today. Only the very wealthy could afford private bath areas.
Here’s where things get a bit dirtier.
Until the Black Plague hit Europe in the 14th century, bathing was seen as a sign of vanity and a religious taboo. Many people avoided it altogether or washed very infrequently.
Following the plague that decimated a third of Europe, people began to understand the importance of cleanliness and its popularity surged.
However, that doesn’t mean that everyone was showering regularly: a person might wash their face and hands daily, but generally they would bathe every few weeks or months. (In fact, doctors didn’t even wash their hands before surgery until they learned more about germs in the late 1800s).
Over the years, designs changed and in the 19th century, a basic system grew in popularity. Well, we say “basic” now, but at the time it was considered a luxury that only the well-off could afford to install. At over 12 feet tall, it consisted of a metal frame, hand pump and tank.
When indoor plumbing was invented in 1850, free-standing showers could actually be connected to a water source. That brings us to the 20th century, when tankless water heaters became more readily available. They could generate hot water without the need for a tank, allowing more and more families to shower on a regular basis in their own bathrooms.
The 80s were a time of improvements, with features such as coloured lights and varying pressures becoming more commonplace. Technologies continued to improve, with most households having glass showers with curtains or sliding doors by the late 90s.
That’s great and all, but there are some drawbacks to these setups that many families still have in their homes today:
- Mold and dirt can build up in hard-to-clean tracks and grooves
- Plastic or cloth curtains get grimy over time, needing to be replaced
- They can make your bathroom look small and dated
- The materials used to create them are often environmentally unfriendly
When it’s time to update your bathroom, rest assured that Eclipse Glass uses environmentally-friendly, 100% recyclable materials with silica (sand) as the basic component.
Everything is easy to keep clean, as there are no crevices or corners for dirt and mold to build up in. And, they look sleek and modern. Learn more about our products here.
Things have changed a lot since Eclipse Glass first started to work in Metro Vancouver bathrooms back in 2000! What do you think will be next?
Ready to update your bathroom? If you have ideas around frameless shower enclosures or bathtubs, let us help you turn your vision into reality. Get started with a free online quote.