We wondered where all the hexagonal fish tanks had gone until this one popped up on our desktop just the other day. At first glance, we thought it was an antique from the Victorian era, with a price tag to match, but this 500-litre/132 gallon hexagon aquarium is very much of the here and now, and is advertised for sale on Artisan Italian craft website Artemest for a mere £42,030/$49629 plus £300/$354 delivery. International prices may vary but by our calculations, that’s a whisker off $50,000.
“A stately addition to any baroque-style decor, this fish tank is rich and bold in every detail,” Artemest list in the product description. “Equipped with an illumination system for the six glass panels composing the base in satin glass, the inner iron structure is coated with bronze-finished brass sheet and brass details coated with 24K gold. The sumptuous wooden base features golden zoomorphic decorations guiding the eye to the majestic glass tank (500 liters capacity) above. Please ask the Concierge for customization options and further details.”
The first customization we would ask for is a better aquascape and a better photo. Surely the ‘scape should feature something way more spectacular when showing off a tank that costs more than most countries’ yearly average wage. Do they have Instagram? The next thing would be a way better finish on the tank itself. If it’s to your taste, the cabinet detail does look handcrafted and artisan close up and if you’re multi-millionaire, a billionaire even, a standard flatpack cabinet won’t cut it in your over opulent dwellings, but the tank? Just no…
We would want the tank to be made from the best low iron glass, have the best cerium polish, and bonded with the best silicone, but the tank featured in the photograph looks standard at best. We’ve designed and sold lots of aquariums in our time but clearly, we were aiming for the wrong market. Why sell 50 x $1000 aquariums when you can sell one at $50k after all? We’ve seen $50,000 aquariums and even $50,000 fish before too, but nothing quite like this. It would take a lot more investment to make this tank into a reef too. If price was no object would you invest in a tank like this, and what would you put in it, or would you rather down a pint of your own skimmer juice and spend the money elsewhere? What would your $50,000 dream aquarium look like?
