Donna Polseno
20th Century Figurative Sculptures
Ceramic
20th Century Vases
Porcelain
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Ceramic
20th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Fountains
Ceramic, Earthenware
Antique 1890s French Belle Époque Figurative Sculptures
Porcelain
Vintage 1940s Italian Classical Roman Busts
Ceramic
20th Century Italian Pottery
Pottery
Mid-20th Century Busts
Ceramic
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
Cement
20th Century Hungarian Porcelain
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass
Late 20th Century German Neoclassical Revival Porcelain
Porcelain
20th Century English Busts
Ceramic, Pottery
Antique Late 19th Century German Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Porcelain
1990s Italian Modern Vases
Glass, Murano Glass, Cut Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass
20th Century Art Deco Busts
Ceramic
Antique 19th Century Japanese Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
Porcelain
Vintage 1950s Danish Busts
Ceramic
Recent Sales
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vases
Ceramic
Late 20th Century Vases
Ceramic
20th Century Vases
Porcelain
20th Century Modern Vases
Ceramic
20th Century Vases
Porcelain
20th Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
Ceramic
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.
Read More
African Travel Plans on Hold? This Ardmore Leopard Vase Brings the Beauty of the Savanna to You
It’s an excellent example of the sought-after ceramics coming out of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.
With a High-Tech Flagship and Cool Collabs, Lladró Is Breaking the Mold for Porcelain Production
Thanks to its new leadership, the Spanish maker of figurines, busts and lighting is on a mission to update the art of porcelain for the 21st century.
Zoë Powell’s Magnolia 05 Vessel Is Handmade from Clay She Unearthed Herself
The free-form stoneware piece is inspired by the magnolia tree and its associations with home.
8 Ways to Breathe New Life into a Space with Plants
The pair behind the Instagram account @houseplantclub share their tips for making any room of the house gloriously green.
Paris Gallerist Sandy Toupenet Gets Fired Up over 20th-Century Ceramics and Inventive New Makers
Her space on the city’s Left Bank mixes mid-century pieces by the likes of Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso with whimsical contemporary creations.
These Soft Sculptures Are Childhood Imaginary Friends Come to Life
Miami artist and designer Gabriela Noelle’s fantastical creations appeal to the Peter Pan in all of us.
This Vivacious Teapot Has Agnes Martin on One Side and Jean-Michel Basquiat on the Other
Ceramist Roberto Lugo brings a street-art sensibility to a dainty serving vessel while paying homage to his artistic heroes.
This Rare Set of 100 Alessi Vases Includes Designs by Scores of International Artists
Alessandro Mendini, Michael Graves, Ettore Sottsass and other design luminaries contributed to this unusual collection of porcelain wares representing a time capsule of late-20th-century decorative art.