When Did Bathtubs Became Popular?

Even as plumbing and hot water became readily accessible, luxury bathhouses and private baths were considered pampering and out of reach of common people in most civilizations. The commonly-available, modern-style bathtub that we know today didn't come into popular use until the mid-19th century.

What are old bathtubs called?

In the early 19th century, clawfoot bathtubs were a mark of social standing and luxury, placed in private baths in wealthy homes where servants could fill them with water and have enough space around the sides to help a person bathe.

Did they have bathtubs in the 1800s?

From about 1800 portable metal bathtubs gradually replaced wooden ones and in the 19th century some people used hand-pumped showers. A Frenchman named Alexandre-Ferdinand Godefrey invented the hairdryer in 1890.