Vase Materials

In their most traditional form, vases are open containers used to hold cut flowers.  Vases are made out of a variety of materials, but the most popular include glass, crystal and porcelain.  Glass comes in many different forms, so, the look of your vase can vary significantly, depending on the type of glass used.

The bare necessities

Glass vases are one of the oldest forms of vases, dating back to 1500 BC.  Still one of the most popular choices for vases, glass comes in a variety of shapes (think squares, cylinders and rectangles) and sizes (short, tall, round, wide).  A clear glass vase is one of the most elegant and simple looks, allowing the items placed in the vase to get all the attention.

Blowing bubbles

Blown glass dates back to 27 BC Syria, when artisans first used pipes to produce this type of glass. Blowing glass is the technique of forming an object, such as a vase, by inflating a glob of molten glass placed on the end of a hollow tube, called a blowpipe.  Since the majority of blown glass vases are handmade, and not mass produced, you can chose the color, size and texture to create the perfect vase for your home.
   

Add a little color

Colored glass vases give vibrancy to what would otherwise be a clear glass. One of the benefits to using colored glass, which can be dyed  numerous colors, creating beautiful shapes and designs, is that these vases make an excellent decorative piece without anything in them.  If you do place flowers in your colored glass vase, though, you'll want to make sure that the color of the flowers complement the color of the glass.

Or add a little lead

Crystal vases are considered one of the most exquisite forms of vases in the world.  What makes crystal different from glass is the amount of lead it contains.  The higher the lead content, the heavier the piece.  The presence of lead in crystal softens the glass, which makes for easier cutting and engraving. Crystal also reflects light in a more dazzling way, causing your vase to sparkle and shine. 

All things clay

Ceramic vases, unlike glass vases, are made out of clay, and fired in a kiln (oven) at a high temperature.  Hence, ceramic vases have a different look and texture than glass.  Ceramic vases are great for homes with Southwestern decor, or other more "rugged," informal looks.  For a more refined look, porcelain, a type of ceramic, is smooth and sleek, making it an ideal material for vases.

Did you say bamboo?

Believe it or not, bamboo is a great material for making vases.  Even though bamboo is part of the grass family, its strength and thickness make it a great natural material to make vases from.

More information on vases