When I remodeled the master bath in my previous house I used a free-standing tub from Tyrrell & Laing. It was expensive (the factor you didn't mention).

https://tandlinternational.com/

It looked and felt lovely to the touch, but when I built a new house years later I went with a much cheaper tub. We aren't tub people, so it didn't make sense to buy the "Rolls Royce" of tubs again!

I think this is the model I had:

https://tandlinternational.com/pacifique-freestanding-bathtub/

In my bathroom:

Hard to see in the photo, but the tile behind the tub is glass tile, with a slight iridescence, so the photo doesn't do it justice.

Found a better photo of contrast between tub and glass tile.

Beautiful. Thanks for the feedback.

You do not mention a budget for the tub...Victoria and Albert has many soaking tubs; though most are $$. Some have fairly high water depths (depends on where the overflow is). We used a Victoria and Albert tub in our last house and ordered it w/o an overflow so the water depth was even deeper -- the tub was set in a recessed area so overflow/oversplash went over the side of the tub and down a drain under the tub. If you get a big soaking tub, make sure you are able to have a high-flow faucet/filler so you don't have to wait 30 minutes to fill the tub!

I have a Devon & Devon f/s soaking tub, made of resin. Once filled, the water holds the heat for a long time.

I saw one in my local showroom. I ordered it (4-month lead-time while it shipped from Italy). The tub arrived damaged -- and the store refused to accept it . At my request, the showroom sold me the floor model, at a substantial discount, but still $$$$

I think I have found want I want...the Victoria and Albert Mozzano which has a 38 degree reclining angle. Thank you for all the responses and suggestions. Certainly a splurge financially, but there seem to be few other options.