Vases

Ceramic vases chart the course of human history as well as the evolution of form and function. Since the dawn of humankind, the need to possess vessels to carry essential materials has been present. The antique vase filled that need. Along with its evolution in form, it also evolved aesthetically, becoming one of the most diverse forms of artistic production accessible today.

The history of vases goes back to the beginnings of human culture, when we needed a means to carry and store liquid. Over time, aesthetic elements were applied to these ceramic containers, rapidly developing into a field of artistic decoration and design all its own. Ancient Chinese cultures developed elaborate techniques in glazing and firing, while ancient Greeks conjured extensive decorative patterns and mythological narratives on their black- and red-figure pots.

Alongside these decorative developments, vases took on new shapes and sizes to accommodate new uses. From the brilliant floral patters of Capodimonte vases to the more exotic elephant vase, there is seemingly a vase to suit every collector.

Quick Facts

• The oldest documented pottery was discovered in 2009 in southern China. Surviving in shards, these fragments date to 16,000 B.C.
• The current record price for an antique vase is held by a Qing Dynasty masterpiece. Known as the "Pinner Qing Dynasty Vase," the vessel sold at auction in 2010 for $83,000,000
• It was not until 3000 B.C. that the potter’s wheel, developed in ancient Mesopotamia, revolutionized the ability of artisans to create rounded vases