A reflection – Today, vases are used to place flowers in, but they can serve as eye-catchers even without flowers. They are made in pottery, porcelain, crystal and glass, but they can also consist of silver, bronze and cloisonné vases. From ancient civilizations, think of Mesopotamia, Egypt and China, to its prominent role in modern interiors, the vase has evolved in both function and form. The vase echoes the artistic, cultural and technological advances of each era.
Ceremonial and practical purposes – Not only were flowers kept in vases. In ancient times, ceramic vases were made primarily for ceremonial and practical purposes. Clay vases were used in Mesopotamia to hold grains and liquids. In Egypt, vases were decorated with hieroglyphics and usually served as grave goods for the deceased.
Source image: Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden.
Classical Antiquity – In Greece and Ancient Rome, vases reached new heights through the artistic expression of the artist. Pottery from this period is characterized by black and red figural ceramics; gods, animals and people were depicted on the vases.
Source image: Britisch Museum, Londen.
Holy Water – In the Middle Ages, vases were commonly used for religious purposes such as storing “Holy Water” or oil. These vases were usually made of metal or glass and were decorated with intricate patterns and sometimes saints were depicted on them.
Source image: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Timeless Islamic Art – With the spread of Islam in the Middle Ages, we see many influences reflected in the art such as intricate geometric patterns and calligraphic designs on the vases. They adorned palaces, mosques and homes.
Source image: Quatar Museums, Doha.
A return to the Antiquities – After the Middle Ages, this period is also known as Renaissance and Baroque, European craftsmen reached back to the past: classical antiquity, reviving the art of making decorative vases. Vases were decorated with beautiful designs and became a symbol of wealth. They were used to display flowers; this was popular in the Dutch Golden Age. Several still lifes demonstrate this.
Source image: Lawrence Steigrad Fine Arts. Jan Philip van Thielen (Mechelen 1618 – Booischot 1667), Flowers in Raeren Stoneware Vase. Signed and dated: I. P. Van. THIELEN. F. ANO. 1660, oil on panel, dim. 50 x 40 cm. https://www.steigrad.com/
Functional pottery – In the 18th and 19th centuries, many factories were established with the goal of producing functional pottery for a large mass. Think of tableware, jugs and pitchers. We also see the emergence of factories that still produce decorative vases (with mostly antique motifs) today such as Wedgwood and Sèvres.
Source image: Le Gallerie degli Uffizi, Firenze.
The 20th century – Vases produced around 1900 remained decorative and were used to show off in the homes of the wealthy. The vases of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, think Gold and Arnhems Plateel, were often decorated with floral, brightly colored motifs. Due to bombings during World War I and World War II, many ceramic factories were destroyed and never rebuilt. Prominent factories such as De Porceleyne Fles and Wedgwood are still productive today.
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Vases: artifacts steeped in history
A reflection – Today, vases are used to place flowers in, but they can serve as eye-catchers even without flowers. They are made in pottery, porcelain, crystal and glass, but they can also consist of silver, bronze and cloisonné vases. From ancient civilizations, think of Mesopotamia, Egypt and China, to its prominent role in modern interiors, the vase has evolved in both function and form. The vase echoes the artistic, cultural and technological advances of each era.
Ceremonial and practical purposes – Not only were flowers kept in vases. In ancient times, ceramic vases were made primarily for ceremonial and practical purposes. Clay vases were used in Mesopotamia to hold grains and liquids. In Egypt, vases were decorated with hieroglyphics and usually served as grave goods for the deceased.
Source image: Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden.
Classical Antiquity – In Greece and Ancient Rome, vases reached new heights through the artistic expression of the artist. Pottery from this period is characterized by black and red figural ceramics; gods, animals and people were depicted on the vases.
Source image: Britisch Museum, Londen.
Holy Water – In the Middle Ages, vases were commonly used for religious purposes such as storing “Holy Water” or oil. These vases were usually made of metal or glass and were decorated with intricate patterns and sometimes saints were depicted on them.
Source image: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Timeless Islamic Art – With the spread of Islam in the Middle Ages, we see many influences reflected in the art such as intricate geometric patterns and calligraphic designs on the vases. They adorned palaces, mosques and homes.
Source image: Quatar Museums, Doha.
A return to the Antiquities – After the Middle Ages, this period is also known as Renaissance and Baroque, European craftsmen reached back to the past: classical antiquity, reviving the art of making decorative vases. Vases were decorated with beautiful designs and became a symbol of wealth. They were used to display flowers; this was popular in the Dutch Golden Age. Several still lifes demonstrate this.
Source image: Lawrence Steigrad Fine Arts. Jan Philip van Thielen (Mechelen 1618 – Booischot 1667), Flowers in Raeren Stoneware Vase. Signed and dated: I. P. Van. THIELEN. F. ANO. 1660, oil on panel, dim. 50 x 40 cm. https://www.steigrad.com/
Functional pottery – In the 18th and 19th centuries, many factories were established with the goal of producing functional pottery for a large mass. Think of tableware, jugs and pitchers. We also see the emergence of factories that still produce decorative vases (with mostly antique motifs) today such as Wedgwood and Sèvres.
Source image: Le Gallerie degli Uffizi, Firenze.
The 20th century – Vases produced around 1900 remained decorative and were used to show off in the homes of the wealthy. The vases of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, think Gold and Arnhems Plateel, were often decorated with floral, brightly colored motifs. Due to bombings during World War I and World War II, many ceramic factories were destroyed and never rebuilt. Prominent factories such as De Porceleyne Fles and Wedgwood are still productive today.