pretty vases

Inspired by the sights of young girls in braids and hats who gather in squares in the village of Lucanas, Francisco Guerreros creates two delightful ceramic vases. Bright colors and bold hand-painted line make them favorites in any setting.

Vines of pink flowers are painted along the side of this vase from Thailand, resulting in a simple, yet striking design. Thatsanee and Ramphan craft the vase of ceramic, finishing it with a crackled green celadon glaze for a sophisticated addition to any home.

Display your flowers with artistic allure in Penpan's gorgeous celadon ceramic vase. Adorned with circular patterns, its exquisite crackled glaze in tranquil blue transforms floral arrangements into captivating spectacles, radiating elegance. Let your bouquets take center stage with this ceramic masterpiece expertly handcrafted in Thailand.

Grace your floral arrangements with the unparalleled beauty of Penpan's splendid celadon ceramic vase. With its mesmerizing crackled glaze in an exquisite blue shade, this ceramic work of art is expertly handcrafted in the esteemed tradition of Thailand's Sawankhalok district pottery, ensuring your flowers always take center stage in style.

Three voluptuous vases in different styles and sizes all attest to the ceramic tradition of Sawankhalok in Sukhothai Province. Duangkamol is a master of Thailand's celadon ceramic technique, demonstrating her skill with this elegant trio. Their surface reveals the subtly crackled appearance of true celadon.

Tall and graceful, a soft deep blue vase rises toward a slender neck. Duangkamol works in celadon ceramic to craft a classic vase with floral motifs and lotus petals around the mouth. The surface reveals the crackled appearance of true celadon.

Flowers blossom in wild adventure over the sleek contours of this celadon vase. Thailand's Duangkamol presents this distinguished piece featuring celadon's trademark crackled finish.

Almost celestial, its spherical tendency drenched in vermilion mystery, this decorative vase intrigues with the sensuality of lacquered designs. From the hands of Daeng Thanunchai, the piece offers a flawless Thai accent for any home décor.

To complete this piece, coiled bamboo basketry is firstly carved on a lathe into the desired shape. A mixture of lacquer - obtained from the Gluta usitata tree - and ashes of burnt rice paddy husks is then applied to the object. Upon exposure to air the mixture dries to form a watertight seal that is polished before another coat is applied. This process is repeated until a rigid base is formed, and a final polishing is executed with sandpaper. Then several coats of pure lacquer are painted on the object, with drying periods in between each coat.

The work is partially polished with sandpaper according to a predetermined pattern - generally concentric - and a few coats of different lacquer colors are applied to the surface. Then the object is left to dry for a few days. The process remains identical for each ensuing color, alternating lacquering and polishing sessions until the design is achieved. The final coat is washed with water and polished with powdered fired clay, offering an irresistible sheen.

Styled after wood-look "faux bois" decorative wares, this pretty vase is perfect for holding a small flower or two. Duangkamol in Thailand crafts the vase using the traditional methods of celadon ceramics. The vase features celadon's characteristic cracked green glaze.

Stick your favorite flowers in this pretty celadon ceramic vase after your next trip to the farmer's market. Hand made by Thai artisans Thatsanee and Ramphan, the cylindrical vase features a short, narrow neck with a flared lip and a subtle crackled finish.

The distinctive black color and slightly metallic sheen of Oaxacan barro negro come from polishing the clay's surface with a quartz stone before the piece is fired in the kiln. Fernando and Magali Pedro in Mexico work in the time-honored craft to create this pretty decorative vase. The perforated vessel sits securely on a woven carrizo fiber base.

This shapely pair of decorative vases from Santodio Paz in Chulucanas, Peru, is crafted using techniques that predate the Inca Empire. Each vase is a different size, but both share the same pretty tea rose color. The minimalist vases lend themselves just as well to modern decor as to more traditional styles.