- Design Inspo
20 Luxury Vases More Beautiful Than Flowers
If someone brings you a bouquet and asks where to put it, is your response: “Any place will do?” Well, then, this article is not for you. But if, contrarily, the idea of receiving the perfect bouquet is as exciting as where it will be placed, then you’re in for a treat. Nest Casa believes that a good vase is as appealing when empty as it when filled with a lush floral arrangement. To that end, we gathered 20 of the best luxury vases that add class and visual interest to your home.
The Vase’s Rich Past
The word “vase” is borrowed directly from the Latin word “vase,” which means “vessel.” The earliest vases to be discovered date back to the Bronze Age, when they stored everything from grains to wine to essential oils. Their rounded shapes suggest that they were made on a spinning pottery wheel, documented in Mesopotamia as far back as 3000 B.C.
The Egyptians received silver vases from Crete around 3100 B.C.—and history indicates that they were the first to use them for decoration and flowers. Still, top honors for décor go to the Greeks, whose famous red clay and black vases were not only highly beautiful but were also used as a means of storytelling. Today, daily life in ancient Greece is primarily known through these treasures. Over time, artists have embraced the vase as they have the canvas as a place to express beauty, emotion, and craft.
Editor’s Pick: Luxury Vases
Calling all handbag lovers! Display your affection for the classic Louis Vuitton hat bag through this clever porcelain. No details were spared in replicating this classic style; it comes decked out in the LV monogram motif with a distinctive handle and name tag.
Hermès delights in the classics with this ikat print vase. The Asian weaving and dyeing technique is combined with a traditional Western urn-style vessel, which has been highlighted in gold filigree.
This vase from the Bon Bon series from Danish artist Helle Mardahl is a Nest Casa favorite. The designer takes inspiration from childhood memories watching Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for these creations, which look good enough to eat.
Vases styled together when empty can make an impactful tableau—especially, when it comes to a series that includes Helle Mardahl’s Bon Bon vases. This milky pink and orange style makes a perfect partner to the deep cherry and pale champagne vase pictured.
Designer Themis Zouganeli dives into her cultural heritage with this Serenity vase by Themis Z. The Greek designer—who spends her time between Athens, Mykonos, Gstaad, and London—pours her love for classic Greek forms and modern interiors into the eponymous lifestyle brand that she created.
The subtle form of this black vase demonstrates the impact that simple lines and shapes can have. This particular style from LSA International, the Zalia, holds either a single bud or a long stemmed bunch in dramatic fashion.
Designer JJ Martin of La Double J brings the same delightful, colorful DNA that decorates her prints to this bulbous vase. The Verona, pineapple-style vase is made in partnership with Italian porcelain maker Ancap and is trimmed in a hand-painted, 18-karat gold.
Claiming over 300 years of Italian heritage, Florence-based porcelain maker Richard Ginori (founded in 1735) was acquired and subsequently resuscitated by Gucci in 2013. What followed was some seriously desirable Gucci homewares under the direction of Alessandro Michele. Ultimately, the collaborations extend beyond the forward-fashion house. This lidded vase inspired by the Roman god of the sea, Neptune, was made in conjunction with London-based artist Luke Edward Hall.
Classic Murano glass stylings make this Stories of Italy Msm Olla vase irresistible. Purple and blue flecks are sure to captivate as this substantial vase is hearty enough to stand alone on the floor.
A fossilized texture makes this unique, vintage vase an actual conversation piece. Perfect for décor that takes cues from nature’s beauty, it also fits perfectly in a space dressed in neutral colors and materials.
Guido Bitossi’s Italian, family-run ceramics business is officially 100 years old. When it was founded in 1921, Bitossi looked to his ancestry connecting him to kiln workers, sculptors, painters, and potters in the Montelupo Fiorentino region—a center for ceramics that dates back to 1536. For this piece, British designer Laura Wood created a bright blue vessel with a primitive side.
Despite appearances, Murano glassmakers have not set up shop in a Brooklyn warehouse. Instead, witness the work of Red Hook–based artist Paul Arnhold, whose dramatic, hand-blown vase creations include this transparent, pink-spotted vase.
Versace lovers know that the most iconic mark of this designer house is the Medusa head, borrowed from the floor of ancient ruins near founder Gianni’s childhood home in Reggio Calabria, Italy. Medusa’s beguiling image was said to besot the viewer. Similarly, Versace planned to make the world fall in love with his creations. Now, the iconic motif is ready to be filled with blooms.
The 1970s were all about the planet and nature. To wit, Earth Day started in April 1970—a decade when Earth Shoes were all the rage. The sense of getting back to nature was infused into the home (today’s terrarium craze has its roots in this era). Here, behold an enormous floor vase that embodies the back-to-basics craft of pottery, a staple in every chic and environmentally conscious home.
Naturally, a vase shaped like a hot air balloon should feature one, too, right? That was the thinking behind this Fornasetti Unita d’Italia vase, which bears the house muse, Lina Cavalieri. Since 1985, Barnaba Fornasetti has helmed his father’s furniture and household décor empire, pushing the brand further while still using the same beloved and time-honored themes and aesthetics for new items.
Baccarat is proudly one of the most distinguished crystal makers in France. This intricate Eye vase is proof positive that that moniker is deserved. Furthermore, this piece is versatile in a variety of settings, with or without bearing flora.
The superluxe Bauble Vase is a menagerie of a piece, displaying semi-precious stones and minerals. Cast in bronze and featuring jewels made from lapis lazuli, malachite, and quartz that are attached to the exterior, this vase is marked by a variety of unique shapes.
The Lyssa vase by Emily Buck embodies the spirit of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in imperfection. The British artist is heavily influenced by antiquity and, thus, recreates classic forms in modern works. In this case, the vase possesses a sensuality found in the Greek goddess of rage and madness, Lyssa.
From the same collection inspired by Greek goddesses, the Circe vase is both historic and contemporary. This piece references a typical water container from ancient Greece but redefines it in black clay.
Graphic and bold—and with a sly irreverence—is an apt description for the ceramics by Jonathan Adler. The brand’s Torino Collection includes this Swares square vase. A retro-inspired color palette lined in gold adds a dynamic touch to any space. This stunner is striking enough to be left empty (but it holds flowers, too).
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