The ubiquity of glass and crystal vases means they are practically invisible. Yet there are so many colors and shapes that this is a good field for collecting. The short ones may be 3 inches tall, the tall ones 18 inches or more. They may hold one flower or two dozen. The mouth may be narrow or flaring. The vase may be one color or a mix of colors.

Vases of the same basic shape and many colors.

The bud vase holds a single stem. Usually narrow, some are so narrow there is hardly any reservoir for water. Because the vase would be top heavy with a stem of flowers, the base is usually either formed into a foot that is wider than the vase or a the bottom of the vase is a glass ball to counter the weight above.

A bud vase is designed to hold a single stem of flowers. A heavy base helps keep it from falling over.

Some crystal vases are plain and some are cut with diamond saws to add refractive surfaces to add light to them. Lead crystal is often cut this way, and makes a vase with weight in its own right. With or without flowers, these vases are beautiful and would make a wonderful collection. Each pattern of cuts has a name and these patterns are frequently the property of specific crystal manufacturer.

A crystal vase with a cut pattern from rim to foot.

Just as interesting, however, are the plain glass vases. They come in many shapes and sizes, and the plain glass leaves all the emphasis on the shape. The fluted vase with a foot contrasts with the balloon shape vase that flares from a broad shoulder. Then there is the vase that is fairly broad from the bottom to the top with just a slight flare. Such a vase can hold a lot of flowers at one time. Some vases are shaped like urns, with handles from the neck to the shoulder. Some are shaped like loving cups, with the handles from the rim to the foot.

Simple shapes allow the eye to dwell on the color of the vase.

The colors of vases vary from clear to black, and all the colors of the rainbow. Green and blue are popular, as is red, although the red is frequently more expensive due the additives required to create the color. (See the chapter about glass colors.) In some cases the glass is opaque or translucent, which allows some light through the vase but it is not see-through. Some beautiful vases have metallic flakes added to give a spangle of gold to the surface.

Gold glass is used to decorate a basic white glass.

All the various properties of glass and crystal are brought to the creation of vases. For this reason, a collection of crystal vases can become an exploration of these properties. And the items are functional, for the most part, so you might get less flack about your collection from those who do not understand.

A vase for several stems.

The images on this post are from Stock Xchnge

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