Neoclassical Vases
NEOCLASSICAL STYLE
Neoclassical design emerged in Europe in the 1750s, as the Age of Enlightenment reached full flower. Neoclassical furniture took its cues from the styles of ancient Rome and Athens: symmetrical, ordered, dignified forms with such details as tapered and fluted chair and table legs, backrest finials and scrolled arms.
Over a period of some 20 years, first in France and later in Britain, neoclassical design — also known as Louis XVI, or Louis Seize — would supersede the lithe and curvaceous Rococo or Louis XV style.
The first half of the 18th century had seen a rebirth of interest in classical antiquity. The "Grand Tour" of Europe, codified as a part of the proper education of a patrician gentleman, included an extended visit to Rome. Some ventured further, to sketch the ruins of ancient Greece. These drawings and others — particularly those derived from the surprising and rich archaeological discoveries in the 1730s and ’40s at the sites of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum — caused great excitement among intellectuals and aesthetes alike.
Neoclassical furniture is meant to reflect both grace and power. The overall appearance of neoclassical chairs, tables and cabinetry is strong and rectilinear. These pieces are, in effect, classical architecture in miniature: chair and table legs are shaped like columns; cabinets are constructed with elements that mirror friezes and pediments.
Yet neoclassicism is enlivened by gilt and silver leaf, marquetry, and carved and applied ornamental motifs based on Greek and Roman sculpture: acanthus leaves, garlands, laurel wreaths, sheaves of arrow, medallions and chair splats are carved in the shapes of lyres and urns. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
As you can see from the furniture on these pages, there is a bit of whimsy in such stately pieces — a touch of lightness that will always keep neoclassicism fresh.
Find antique neoclassical furniture today on 1stDibs.
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Style: Neoclassical
Pair of Porcelain Vases
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of ormolu mounted serves porcelain vases.
Category
Early 1900s European Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Early 20th C John Tams Ltd Porcelain Vase of Telemachus Interceding for Phemius
Located in Troy, MI
Rare circa 1920s English vase by John Tams Ltd depicting scene from Odyssey of Telemachus interceding for Phemius. Black matte glaze with colorful decoration of the three figures. Go...
Category
Early 20th Century English Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of English Neoclassical Style Iron Garden Urns
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Magnificent pair of English neoclassical revival garden urns or jardinières crafted from cast iron. The urns are decorated with Greco-Roman figures with a fluted column base. Beautif...
Category
20th Century English Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Iron
Italian Neoclassic Majolica Earthenware Vase with Bird
Located in New York, NY
Italian neo-classic antique Majolica vase with side handles and decorated with blue, yellow, and green flowers, fruit and bird.
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Earthenware
Gilt-Bronze, Onyx and Enamel Cloisonné Centerpiece, France, Late 19th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Gilt-bronze, onyx and enamel cloisonné centerpiece. France, Late 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Onyx, Bronze, Enamel
Encaustic Painted Basalt Oenochoe, Wedgwood, circa 1800
By Wedgwood
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Currently on loan to The David Roche Foundation for their exhibition "Josiah Wedgwood - Master Potter to the Universe".
A fabulous oenochoe (Greek wine jug) in black basalt, with en...
Category
1790s English Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Stoneware
Planter Marble Red Swedish 19th Century Oval Sarkofag Shape, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Planter marble red Swedish 19th century oval sarkofag shape, Sweden. A planter or decorative vessel made during the 19th century in Sweden. Made from red ma...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Marble
Two Neoclassical Style Russian Cut Glass and Ormolu Vases
Located in London, GB
Two neoclassical style Russian cut glass and Ormolu vases
Russian, 20th century
Dimensions: Height 32cm, width 16cm, depth 12cm
Each vase in thi...
Category
20th Century Russian Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Neoclassical Style Patinated Bronze Tazza
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome French 19th century Neo-Classical st. patinated bronze tazza. The urn is raised on a Vert de Patricia marble hexagonal base below the fluted column support with patinated ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Russian Cut Blue Glass and Gilt Bronze Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of Russian cut blue glass and gilt bronze vases
Russian, 20th century
Measures: Height 38cm, width 20cm, depth 13cm
Each vase in this pair of Russian neoclassical vases has...
Category
20th Century Russian Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Fratelli Toso Murano Art Glass Neoclassical Glass Jug Vase, Italy, 1960s
By Fratelli
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown Italian art glass vase. Created by a Fratelli Toso company. Blue core with colorful murine and light blue applied handle. A beautiful piece of art for any...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Murano Glass
Pair of French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Marble and Ormolu Urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful pair of French 19th century neo-classical st. Vert de Patricia marble, black Belgian marble, and ormolu urns. Each urn is raised by a square base with a central foliate o...
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of Important Russian Gilt Bronze and Metal Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of important Russian gilt bronze and metal vases
Russian, circa 1820
Dimensions: Height 98cm, width 43cm, depth 38cm
This monumental pair of vases are exquisitely crafted in gilt bronze and metal. They both feature twin scrolled handles, which are decorated with leaves and foliate patterns, as well as classical profiles at the top. These touch the ormolu rims, which feature an egg and dart pattern.
The body of each vase is of ovoid form and features further ormolu mounts, including a thick band underneath the waisted neck, twin dog heads at the base of the handles, flowers, stars and more Classical masks with foliate scrolls. The vases are supported by square plinths, with socle form bases and decorations of fluted ribbing and scrolled foliate forms.
Heavily inspired by the neoclassical style, which was popular in Russia in the late 18th and 19th centuries, the vases are decorated with gilt bronze relief scenes which allude to motifs in classical mythology. On a rich burgundy ground, the metal body of the vases show figures flanked by palm trees.
One vase shows a woman dressed in a classical draped fabric garment playing two flutes and leaning on a pedestal with twirling ivy, while a baby stands...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Metal, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Patinated Bronze and Marble Tazzas
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome pair of French 19th century neo-classical st. patinated bronze and marble tazzas. Each tazza is raised on a Vert de Patricia marble hexagonal base below the fluted column ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Meissen Porcelain Vases with Snake Handles
Located in Pembroke, MA
A highly-decorative pair of yellow porcelain vases, hand-painted with detailed central romantic scene, and having snake-form handles (Me...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Large Dresden Ornamental Vase in Hand Painted Porcelain with Classicist Scenes
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Large Dresden ornamental vase in hand painted porcelain with classicist scenes and handles in the shape of winged female figures.
19th century.
Measures: 42.5 x 24 cm.
In excellen...
Category
19th Century German Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Midcentury Clear Cut-Glass Vase with Geometric Pattern
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a console table or buffet with this elegant glass vase. Crafted in France circa 1970, the luxurious cut glass vessel stands on a square base, is shaped as a neoclassical urn...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Cut Glass
Pair of Deep Red Glaze and 24ct Gold Leaves Majolica Vases, Italy, 21st Century
Located in London, GB
Pair of vases by Antonietta Mazzotti Emaldi, 2018, Glazed earthenware (majolica) and 24ct gold, entirely handmade, unique pieces.
Antonietta Mazzotti (Faenza, Italy 1950) attended the Istituto d’Arte per la Ceramica in Faenza and opened her first workshop in her hometown taking part in group and solo exhibitions at international level. In 1976 she has transformed the neo-gothic greenhouse of Villa Emaldi in her workshop. Antonietta Mazzotti has worked for some of the most important international museums and has received several important recognitions worldwide. Her works have been featured in major Italian magazines of interior design and she has acquired international visibility being featured in major international press publications, such as The New York Times. She still lives and works at Villa Emaldi in Faenza where she continues her research on historical decor...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Gold
Pair of Paris Porcelain Hand Painted Cylinder Vases
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A Large pair of Paris porcelain two handled vases with floral and bird decoration. The rims with reticulated border with female figural handles resting on a Celest blue pedestal...
Category
1870s French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of 19th Century Neoclassical Style Baccarat Crystal and Ormolu Vases
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and statement making pair of French 19th century Neo-Classical st. Baccarat crystal and ormolu vases. Each vase is raised by an elegant square ormolu base with a fine mott...
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
English Jasperware Blue Wedgwood Vases w/ Neoclassical Subjects on Plinths, Pair
By John Flaxman
Located in New York, NY
An exquisite and quite rare pair of 19th century English, Staffordshire, Jasperware blue ground Wedgwood vases with neoclassical subjects on rounded plinths, stylistically attributed...
Category
1870s English Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Ceramic
Two Neoclassical Style Russian Cut Glass and Ormolu Vases
Located in London, GB
Two neoclassical style Russian cut glass and ormolu vases,
Russian, 20th century
Dimensions: Height 37cm, width 20cm, depth 13.5cm
Each vase has an ...
Category
20th Century Russian Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Ormolu
Iridescent Glazed Faience Vases with Neoclassical Gilt Bronze Mounts
Located in New York, NY
Very unusual and fine quality 19th century French Iridescent Glazed Faience vases with neoclassical gilt bronze mounts.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of Porcelain Vases, France, Late 19th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of porcelain vases, France, late 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Italy Richard Ginori Doccia 19th Century Porcelain Covered Vase with Landscape
Located in Brescia, IT
This glamorous covered vase or urn, it is painted with natural landscapes. The drawings are so detailed that we can say done in Flemish style. We can see a landscape with houses and ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Porcelain
20th Centurty Pair of Cast Iron Vases with Bases, Garden Furniture
Located in PALERMO, IT
Pair of cast iron vases, on finely worked cast iron bases.
Category
Early 20th Century Sicilian Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Iron
Four Neoclassical Italian Biscuit Vases on Giltwood Bases Table Decorations
Located in Milan, IT
Four neoclassical biscuit and giltwood table decorations a set of four lovely small antique biscuit porcelain craters on giltwood basements with acanthus leaves and scroll carving ornaments.
The four neoclassical artworks...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Porcelain, Giltwood
Pair of Rock Crystal Urns with Gold Finials
Located in Cypress, CA
Magnificent pair of Neo-classical style hand-carved and hand-polished rock crystal covered vases. Crowned with ormolu pineapple finials.
The largest we have ever seen in our 40 year...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Rock Crystal, Ormolu
Pair of Early 20th Century Rudolfstadt Vases
Located in London, GB
A pair of Rudolfstadt Porcelain vases, very much in the Royal Worcester style, hand painted with floral subjects on a duck-egg background; the neck and foot of the vases decorated with bisque and gilt scrolls the necks enhanced by a gilt Florentine scroll.
Category
Early 20th Century German Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Wonderful Pair French Ormolu Pierced Bronze Crystal Glass Neoclassical Vases
By Baccarat
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful pair french ormolu pierced bronze crystal/glass neoclassical lion filigree swag vases.
Category
20th Century French Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
"Royal Vienna" Cobalt Urn with Museum Quality Paintings Artist Signed Wagner
Located in Boston, MA
"Royal Vienna" cobalt blue urn with museum quality paintings of Greek mythology of Paris and Helena artist-signed Wagner. The urn base has cobalt ground with raised gold decorations ...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Italian White and Mecca Giltwood Hand Carved Lamp Bases Verona, 1980
Located in Milan, IT
From Verona Italy, a pair of late 20th century hand carved mecca finish and ivory painted bases, suitable to make beautiful bedside table lamps, see the holes suitable for wiring in ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Pine
Silver Gilt Portland Vase by Elkington & Co.
Located in New Orleans, LA
This magnificent silver-gilt Portland vase was crafted by the pioneering silversmithing firm of Elkington & Co. The iconic classical scenes are chased up...
Category
19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver
Urn Vase Marble Gray, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Urn marble gray, Sweden. An urn or vase made in marble in Sweden, 20th century.
Category
20th Century European Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Marble
Encaustic Painted Basalt Vase, Wedgwood, circa 1785
By Wedgwood
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Polished basalt, decorated with Victoria, Goddess of Victory, in her chariot; possibly after a Roman model such as the wall paintings at Herculaneum. T...
Category
1780s English Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Stoneware
Fluted Squash-Form Vase
Located in Larkspur, CA
Multi-layered classic organic-shaped and fluted squash-form vase with layered champagne-colored resin.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary North American Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Acrylic
Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Vase Signed Sèvres, France, Late 19th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Porcelain and gilt bronze vase signed Sèvres, France, late 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Neoclassical Directoire Style Tole Vases
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stunning pair of French vases, urns, cachepots, or garniture set. Featuring neoclassical Directoire style motifs of a muse and musical trophy. The vase is supported by paw feet with a gilt finish and mounted to a faux marble plinth...
Category
19th Century European Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Metal
Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Vase Signed Sèvres, Painted by Lucat, France
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Porcelain and gilt bronze vase signed Sèvres, painted by Lucat, France, late 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Bronze
Crystal and Gilt Bronze Jardinière, France, Late 19th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Crystal and gilt bronze jardinière. France, late 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Torch Vase, Wedgwood, circa 1820
By Wedgwood
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
A very tall and very striking tricolor torch vase, complete with cover.
In neoclassical iconography, the torches symbolize marriage; hence the love-bird finial.
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Stoneware
Empire Fruitwood Covered Vase, French, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
A fine French neoclassical early 19th century turned and carved urn with cover. A carved snake encircling a gadrooned cover. The tapering vase with 3 sect...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Fruitwood
Neoclassical Style Campana Grand Tour Vase
Located in Montreal, QC
Neoclassical style patinated metal Grand Tour Campana vase featuring a frieze depicting a Bacchanalian procession. Set on an antico verde marble base.
Category
1880s French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Marble, Metal
Two Russian Malachite and Gilt Bronze Urns, Designed by Galberg
By Ekaterinburg Faceting Factory, Russia
Located in London, GB
These magnificent gilt bronze (ormolu) mounted malachite urns were created in c.1830 to a design by Ivan Ivanovich Galberg (Russian, 1782-1863). Galberg was an important figure, who ...
Category
1830s Russian Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu, Bronze
Pair of 19th Century Classical Rouge Marble Vases on Giltwood Bases
Located in New York, NY
Pair of 19 century Italian neoclassical Rouge marble vases on later giltwood bases.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Marble
Pair of Gilt Bronze and Agate Cassolettes, France, Late 19th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of gilt bronze and agate cassolettes, France, late 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Agate, Bronze
Rare 19th Century Tucker and Hemphill American Porcelain Trumpet Vase, 1830s
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine and rare early 19th century Tucker and Hemphill porcelain vase.
The vase is decorated with a gilt shield device surrounded by leaf and branch and ribbon decoration. (Also, ...
Category
1830s American Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Marble, Gilt-Bronze and Cloisonné Center, Neoclassical Style
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Marble, gilt bronze and cloisonné center, neoclassical style.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Neoclassical Style LapisLazuli and Bronze Vase Lamps by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This Neoclassical Style Set of Lapis Lazuli and Gilt Bronze Vase Lamps by Gherardo Degli Albizzi are exceptional pieces of luxury design. Vases, which have an ovoid form, feature bul...
Category
2010s Italian Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Marble, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Bronze
Two Antique Painted Porcelain Vases
Located in London, GB
These elegant small-scale vases have been delicately handcrafted from porcelain. They will look beautiful placed on top of a mantelpiece, pedestal or table, where the beholder can fu...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Shield-Shaped Vase, Wedgwood, circa 1773
By Wedgwood
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
A shield-shaped vase, decorated to resemble porphyry, and highlighted with gilding.
Marked for Wedgwood & Bentley.
Category
Late 18th Century English Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Stoneware
Rare Pair of 18th Century Quartz, Ormolu Mounted Vases, circa 1780
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A rare and important pair of late 18th century quartz lidded vases, each with wonderful gilded classical ormolu scrolling foliate mounts and handles, te...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Quartz, Ormolu
Pair of Baccarat Acid-Cameo Double-Overlay Blue-Cased White Opaline Glass Vases
By Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous & rare pair of baccarat acid-cameo double overlay blue-cased white opaline glass vases circa 1860-1870. Each vase decorated on the front and ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Glass
Antique French Limestone Medicine Bowl
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Designed and produces, 18th century
Limestone
Measures: 8" height, 14.5" diameter
Provenance: Flea Market Paris.
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Limestone
Murano Blue and Smoked Art Glass Urn Vase, Signed by Roberto Rossi, Italy
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown Italian art glass vase. Created by Roberto Rossi (signed). Blue on the outside, white glass on the inside, handles and foot i...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Murano Glass
Fratelli Toso Murano Art Glass Neoclassical Miniature Vase, Italy, 1960s
By Fratelli
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown Italian art glass vase. Created by a Fratelli Toso company. Blue, turquoise, white and light blue colors. A beautiful piece of art for any room.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Murano Glass
Pair of Painted Tole and Dore Bronze Mounted Neoclassical Style Covered Vases
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous and Palace size pair of French/North European painted tole and dore bronze mounted neoclassical covered vases. This beautiful pair of original covered vases are exquisitely made with a fabulous black patinated tole body each with two handles designed in Greek key-scroll patterns and flanked on either end with rams head masks holding rings in their mouths. Each body is mounted on a square-shaped two-tone hand chased dore bronze base. These are beautiful in any decorative setting and are aesthetically and functionally appealing to any room. Tole vases of this scale are very rare to see from this period.
Provenance: These vases were sold in Christies New York, sale number 9656, Fine French and Continental Furnitur, Porcelain, and Tapestries sale...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Large Gilt and Patinated Bronze Neoclassical Style Vase, French, circa 1910
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A large and finely cast gilt and patinated bronze neoclassical style vase.
This impressive vase is of oval shape with gilt and patinated bronze decoration of classical figures and...
Category
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Vases
Materials
Bronze
Neoclassical vases for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Neoclassical vases for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage vases created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Neoclassical vases made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original vases, popular names associated with this style include Wedgwood, Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, Ferdinand Barbedienne, and Meissen Porcelain. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for vases differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $90 and tops out at $805,222 while the average work can sell for $3,874.
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