You don’t need to be Cleopatra to enjoy your bath time; you only need to be rich. Realizing the importance of a soothing bath in a ridiculously expensive bathtub is a deep-pocketed, secretive lawyer from the USA. He commissioned one of only two ever made (the other for a Middle Eastern prince), designed to transform bathing into the most indulgent moment of the day. Costing upwards of $400,000, his version is carved from labradorite, while the prince’s bath is crafted from rose quartz sourced from Namibia’s vast deserts. While the artist remains tight-lipped about the price, he does mention that it would easily exceed the cost of an apartment in Amsterdam.
Sculptor Jan-Carel Koster’s creation isn’t just a bathtub, it’s a 22,000-pound masterpiece, a functional work of art crafted from some of the most precious materials on Earth. As the Nijkerkerveen-based artist prefers to call it, the “bath” took two painstaking years to complete. The project involved grueling trips to the desert, the construction of custom roads, and an almost obsessive commitment to perfection.
While Koster tirelessly worked for months to shape the stone, he faced challenges beyond the sheer intricacy of the craft. The labradorite used for the lawyer’s bath was sourced from a quarry near Kyiv, Ukraine. According to the artist, the gemstone, resembling a block of concrete at first glance, was harder than granite and emanated an energy some believe reflects its origin. Koster even sought the help of an expert to harmonize the stone’s energy before the sculpting began.
It’s easy to see why this exquisite bathtub costs as much as a small apartment in the Netherlands. Of course, the price is insignificant for the well-heeled lawyer who enjoys living life king-size. For the Arabian prince, however, the stakes were even higher. His bath, commissioned for the wellness suite of his private island, was custom-carved to match the exact contours of his body. Living like royalty is passé, it’s time to bathe like the rich.
About the artist –
Few artists can match the mastery of Jan-Carel Koster, whose creations are as rare as they are breathtaking. Only one other Italian company in the world produces gemstone baths of this exclusivity. Koster’s artistic journey began at the tender age of six, learning carpentry from his grandfather. He later honed his skills in Renaissance sculpting techniques inspired by greats like Michelangelo.
Today, Koster works from his studio in the heart of the Netherlands, creating everything from monumental bathtubs to intricate wooden sculptures.
