The interior design exhibition took place from March 26-29, 2022, at the Dubai World Trade Center, and all eyes were on the exquisite gemstone bathtub designed by Nigel Fenwick. This bathtub is crafted from petrified wood sourced from the tropical forests of Indonesia.
A close-up of the bathtub resembling a luxurious mansion (Source: luxurylaunches).
Fenwick named his creation “The Precious Gem” and stated on his website that it is crafted from a 14-ton piece of petrified wood that is approximately 180 million years old.
A similar bathtub was sold in the UAE for $1.7 million, but this one is set to have a staggering price of $2 million.
Mr. Fenwick remarked: “The story behind this beautiful and extremely rare bathtub reveals a dramatic and adventurous journey in pursuit of the most perfect work of art. Petrified wood is one of the rarest and most beautiful raw materials in the world, and many believe it has healing properties and even capabilities.”
A beautiful piece of petrified wood. (Source: Wikipedia)
Petrified wood forms when plant material is buried by sediment and protected from decay by oxygen and microorganisms. Subsequently, mineral-rich groundwater flows through the sediment, replacing the original plant material with silica, calcium, pyrite, or other inorganic materials such as opal.
The result is a fossil of the original wood material that is preserved and still displays details of the bark, wood, and cellular structure. This process takes millions of years, and petrified wood is exceedingly rare.
Some specimens of petrified wood are so well-preserved that they are not recognized as fossils until picked up, shocking individuals with their weight.
