A Symphony of Rarity: Petrified Wood Bathtubs  – Where Luxury Meets Nature!

Embark on a fascinating journey through time and nature with us, discovering the uniqueness of bathtubs crafted from petrified wood – true gems in the world of bathroom design.

Ever wondered what Petrified wood is?

Petrified wood, also known as fossilized wood, is a type of fossil. The process of petrification – the transformation of wood into stone – occurs when ancient ferns or trees, organic wood, undergo mineralization. This means that the organic structures of the wood are replaced or preserved by minerals, typically silica (quartz) or calcite. This process takes place over an incredibly long period, often tens of millions of years, during which the former tree or wood gradually transforms into genuine stone.

What had to happen for ancient wood to turn into stone?

The formation of petrified wood is a true masterpiece of nature, requiring time, time, and more time. It all began millions of years ago when ancient ferns or trees fell and ceased to grow. This marked the “Wood Embedding” phase – the start of the process when wood was engulfed by sediment layers, such as sand, mud, or clay. The wood had to be covered, disappearing beneath the surface to be protected from air and bacteria, which would typically lead to its decomposition.

Thousands of years below the surface, tightly sealed within the earth, initiated the “Mineral Absorption” phase. Over time, the wood started absorbing minerals from the surrounding soil. Water, saturated with minerals (such as silica), slowly permeated the cellular structure of the wood.

Successive tens of thousands of years of saturation led to the “Conversion of Cellulose into Silica.” In the mineralization process, silica (a siliceous mineral) began replacing the organic matter of the wood, such as cellulose and lignin. This meant that the appearance – the cellular structure of the wood – was preserved, but minerals replaced the wood’s original components.

All of this led to the hardening process: As mineralization progressed, the wood gradually became harder. Silica acted as cement, over the ages solidifying the wood’s structure.

The final stage of transforming wood into fossil was “Petrification.” The entire process concluded when the wood completely mineralized, creating petrified wood. The ultimate appearance depended on the types of minerals absorbed by the plant. For example, the presence of various soil impurities could give petrified wood diverse colors such as red, brown, or gray.

Now, after everything began many millions of years ago, we discover the end result – wood that retains its original structure, appearing just as it did millions of years ago, but now transformed into stone, harder and more durable than the original tree or fern.

Why is petrified wood so unique?

Petrified wood can be found only in a few places worldwide, and not every plant underwent the petrification process. Most trees or plants remained on the earth’s surface, rotting or undergoing the decomposition process, failing to transform into fossils. In Indonesia, various species of petrified wood can be found. Here are some tree species that have petrified: Araucaria (Araucariaceae): This family includes coniferous trees, but only some of them may be found in the form of petrified wood. Cycads (Cycadophyta): This group of plants has existed since prehistoric times. Petrified remains of cycads can be found in petrified wood. Deciduous trees: Although coniferous trees are more commonly petrified, some deciduous tree species can also be immortalized in the form of petrified wood.

Why does petrified wood from Indonesia typically have a black or brown color?

Regarding the color of petrified wood, it can vary, depending on the fossil excavation site and the types of minerals that replaced the wood cells. Petrified wood comes in different shades, including brown and black. Differences in color mainly result from the types of minerals present in the mineralization process. Petrified wood with a brown color may contain various minerals, such as iron oxides, giving it a warm hue. On the other hand, petrified wood with a black color may contain organic carbon or other minerals, giving it a darker appearance.

How Lux4home™ Sources Raw Material for Petrified Wood Sinks and Bathtubs in Indonesia?

Contrary to common belief, petrified wood doesn’t come from mines. Extracting the raw material, carefully selected petrified wood, is a highly demanding task. Commitment to sustainable mining practices and environmental respect are crucial values in the process of obtaining this exceptional resource. Searching for raw material requires intuitive experience and government permits. In an effort to preserve the natural environment, Lux4home™ sources the material only through exploration of areas designated for palm oil cultivation or other commercial tree and vegetable plantations. This way, we avoid environmental destruction, digging only in areas designated for cultivation. Material exploration extends to a depth of 4 meters below the surface. This is why this material becomes increasingly rare and more valuable year after year. We estimate that in a few decades, it may attain collector’s status. Unfortunately, there are instances of predatory searches by other companies or individuals, destroying, for example, jungles in the quest for such a treasure. However, authorities in Indonesia are increasingly cracking down on such activities, imposing strict penalties.

Now that you understand why our sinks and bathtubs crafted from petrified wood are particularly cherished for the combination of elegance, durability, and the history they carry within.

Exceptional durability, patterns, and colors achieved through this million-year process make each petrified wood bathtub a unique work of natural art.

See how large a tree was found underground. Now it’s petrified wood, a plant that lived millions of years ago.

Petrified Wood Bathtubs – A Symphony of Rarity.

Now that you know how long it took for the material for a petrified wood bathtub to form, you should also know that after such an extended period, even when we find a tree turned into stone underground, finding a piece long and wide enough to make a bathtub is exceptionally rare. Firstly, there’s the difficulty in diameter – the width of the bathtub. If the bathtub should have a minimum height and width of 60 cm, this means finding a massive tree that has turned into stone – small trunks are too narrow to craft a bathtub. Secondly, there’s the issue of length. Even when we come across a sufficiently large former tree trunk, it’s often cracked or fragmented – even if the entire tree was 20 meters long, time has taken its toll. Underground, this tree has endured an unknown number of earthquakes, soil movements, groundwater flows, etc. All of this makes petrified wood bathtubs unique rarities, limited by raw material availability. They are among the rarest, and consequently, the most prestigious interior fittings. The vision that in a few decades it might not be possible to find (perhaps legally) the raw material to produce such products makes them true works of art that will increase in value over time.

How We Produce Petrified Wood Bathtubs.

We craft sinks and bathtubs from petrified wood by hand. While we use a large saw to cut the edges, the hollowing of the bathtub’s usable surface, polishing, and the entire process are done manually. This allows us to control every centimeter of this unique material, ensuring that the petrification occurs at the full thickness. This approach also lets us use skills and avoid excessive strikes that could cause material vibrations, preventing fractures. Since we work with a material created by nature, we have no influence over its structure. Therefore, to achieve a very smooth interior and exterior of the bathtub, we use small amounts of resin for polishing to strengthen the material’s structure and induce consolidation. Ultimately, we deliver incredibly beautiful pieces of art to our exceptional clients that cannot be replicated. Those who decide and can afford such a purchase bring millions of years of history transformed into a bathtub into their bathroom. The awareness of bathing in a material that was a growing tree many million years ago rightly makes one feel exceptional.

For Whom are Petrified Wood Bathtubs?

Our proposition is an encouragement to discover uniqueness. Undoubtedly, these are products for those who appreciate unique solutions, products that offer something extraordinary. In this case, it’s where time meets luxury, and nature becomes an immortal work of art. Petrified wood bathtubs are for those who appreciate the beauty of nature combined with craftsmanship – bathtubs from petrified wood represent an unrivaled masterpiece of nature, not ours.

What else do we craft from this stone – this fossil?

Not just petrified wood bathtubs. Petrified wood is also transformed into countertop sinks or freestanding sinks made from petrified wood, decorations, dining tables from petrified wood, countertops from petrified wood, coffee tables, and other bespoke items for our clients worldwide.

If you, too, would like to have such a treasure for yourself, use the form below and write to us about what you’re interested in. Keep in mind that especially for the production of petrified wood bathtubs, it might take several months, so reach out to us as early as possible.
Feel free to get in touch! 🌿