Stem Cup Ming
Antique Mid-18th Century Chinese Archaistic Vases
Bronze
People Also Browsed
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Metalwork
Bronze
Vintage 1920s Chinese Porcelain
Porcelain
Antique Late 18th Century German Chinoiserie Ceramics
Porcelain
Antique Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Table Lamps
Bronze
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Brass
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Chinese Han Vases
Pottery
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Chinese Tang Figurative Sculptures
Pottery
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Chinese Archaistic Antiquities
Bronze
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Pottery
Antique Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Metalwork
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings and Screens
Silk
Early 20th Century Chinese Vases
Porcelain
Antique 1850s Chinese Qing Metalwork
Bronze, Enamel
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Chinese Han Ceramics
Terracotta
Antique Mid-17th Century Chinese Ming Metalwork
Bronze
Finding the Right vases for You
Whether it’s a Chinese Han dynasty glazed ceramic wine vessel, a work of Murano glass or a hand-painted Scandinavian modern stoneware piece, a fine vase brings a piece of history into your space as much as it adds a sophisticated dynamic.
Like sculptures or paintings, antique and vintage vases are considered works of fine art. Once offered as tributes to ancient rulers, vases continue to be gifted to heads of state today. Over time, decorative porcelain vases have become family heirlooms to be displayed prominently in our homes — loved pieces treasured from generation to generation.
The functional value of vases is well known. They were traditionally utilized as vessels for carrying dry goods or liquids, so some have handles and feature an opening at the top (where they flare back out). While artists have explored wildly sculptural alternatives over time, the most conventional vase shape is characterized by a bulbous base and a body with shoulders where the form curves inward.
Owing to their intrinsic functionality, vases are quite possibly versatile in ways few other art forms can match. They’re typically taller than they are wide. Some have a neck that offers height and is ideal for the stems of cut flowers. To pair with your mid-century modern decor, the right vase will be an elegant receptacle for leafy snake plants on your teak dining table, or, in the case of welcoming guests on your doorstep, a large ceramic floor vase for long tree branches or sticks — perhaps one crafted in the Art Nouveau style — works wonders.
Interior designers include vases of every type, size and style in their projects — be the canvas indoors or outdoors — often introducing a splash of color and a range of textures to an entryway or merely calling attention to nature’s asymmetries by bringing more organically shaped decorative objects into a home.
On 1stDibs, you can browse our collection of vases by material, including ceramic, glass, porcelain and more. Sizes range from tiny bud vases to massive statement pieces and every size in between.