Cz Amphora

Jugendstil—the Germanic name for the sinuous, ethereal design style best known as Art Nouveau—rarely found better expression in ceramics that at the kilns of Amphora. In 1892, Austrian potter Alfred Stellmacher and four relatives opened a workshop that produced earthenware featuring plants, animals, mythical creatures, simulated jewels and even portraits in the style of Gustav Klimt and other fashionable painters of the era. Each piece was signed Amphora. The factory also produced ewers, bowls, tureens, and other diverse shapes. Located in the former spa resort town of Turn-Teplitz (now part of the Czech Republic), the Amphora factory took advantage of the abundant kaolin in the local riverbeds—as well as the energy produced by the rivers themselves—in manufacturing their arresting wares.

     Amphora pieces were painstakingly produced via a method that included detailed sketches, intricate carving and molding and luminous iridescent glazing. All culminated with repeated firings of the clay—sometimes as many as ten times. As a result, the firm won worldwide acclaim, taking gold medals at the Chicago and St. Louis World’s Fairs. Its wares were sold by luxury emporiums like Tiffany & Co.

     Collectors prize Amphora vases for their delicate, naturalistic designs, and larger pieces often command prices in the tens of thousands. Equally sought after are portrait busts featuring religious, literary and allegorical themes. If you’re mourning the end of Downton Abbey and you’d like to add a dash of Lady Edith’s bohemian flair to your home, an Amphora vase or bowl will serve as a unique conversation piece.

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.