Urns
20th Century American American Classical Urns
Concrete
1870s French Napoleon III Antique Urns
Marble
20th Century Unknown Empire Urns
Brass
Early 20th Century European French Provincial Urns
Terracotta
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Urns
Onyx, Ormolu
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Urns
Ormolu
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns
Art Glass
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Revival Urns
Terracotta
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Urns
Ormolu
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Urns
Ormolu
2010s Italian Modern Urns
Terracotta
2010s Italian Modern Urns
Terracotta
Mid-19th Century French Victorian Antique Urns
Opaline Glass
20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Urns
Ceramic
Late 19th Century Spanish Country Antique Urns
Terracotta
Early 1800s British Antique Urns
Porcelain
20th Century French Louis XVI Urns
Marble, Ormolu
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Urns
Ceramic
Late 18th Century Spanish Antique Urns
Terracotta
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Urns
Concrete
Late 19th Century French French Provincial Antique Urns
Terracotta
1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Urns
Concrete
19th Century French Antique Urns
Pottery
Late 20th Century American Classical Urns
Stone
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Urns
Cement
Late 19th Century English Neoclassical Revival Antique Urns
Iron
19th Century French Antique Urns
Pottery
19th Century French Renaissance Antique Urns
Marble, Bronze
Early 1900s French French Provincial Antique Urns
Terracotta
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Urns
Cement
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Urns
Ormolu
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns
Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Urns
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Urns
Earthenware
20th Century French Art Deco Urns
Art Glass
1880s French Antique Urns
Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century German Modern Urns
Ceramic
20th Century English Urns
Clay
19th Century Italian Other Antique Urns
Alabaster
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Urns
Pottery
Mid-20th Century Burmese Urns
19th Century French Antique Urns
Alabaster
Antique and Vintage Urns for Sale
Decorative vases and antique and vintage urns are statement objects for the home that can date back centuries. Ranging from pieces with intricate, hand-painted details to more minimal forms with abstract shapes, decorative vases and urns come in a range of styles and sizes.
An urn is a type of vase that typically has a cover, a narrow neck and a round body, sometimes with a footed pedestal. However, when a vessel is called an urn, this often denotes its purpose rather than its origin or shape. One of the urn’s most crucial roles was and remains to be to hold the ashes of people for funerary rites. Another type of urn is adorned with figures that tell a story or show a scene.
Some of the earliest vases were formed from clay or metal-like bronze. Mesopotamians used them not only for decoration but also for storage. In ancient Greece, vases and urns frequently depicted stories from mythology, showing images of the gods and heroes. In ancient Egypt, vases such as the amphora had ceremonial purposes.
Over time, vases grew in popularity among artists as a different kind of canvas for expression. Unlike many of the ancient examples, these vases were not always functional but instead made for a striking addition to one’s decor. Even a plain, solid-colored vase can add color or style to a room. Metal urns are elegant additions to your living room or foyer rather than outside, unless you’re partial to the alluring weathered patina that is expected to characterize an antique cast-iron garden urn.
Every interior designer will tell you that decorative objects are what make a house a home. Decorative objects trumpet the homeowner’s personality while bringing a room to life. For designers, they present an opportunity to express their creative vision.
When looking for a decorative vase, it’s important to note the design and also the size and shape. Decorative vases vary from those with a wide base to those with long slender necks. Browse decorative vases and an extensive ceramic urn collection on 1stDibs.