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Vase

arts Maturity 7-9 Next article →

A vase is a special kind of open container.

The David Vases
The David Vases

People love to use them to hold bright, cut flowers. Vases come in many different sizes to fit their flowers. Some vases are very large and some are quite small. They often have beautiful decorations on their surfaces.

Portland Vase V&A
Portland Vase V&A

People use vases for art and for daily life. They can be useful tools or lovely things to look at.

Most vases share a very similar shape. The bottom part is called the foot or the base. This base can be flat or even shaped like a bulb. The middle part is known as the body.

The David Vases
The David Vases

Some vases have a shoulder where the body curves in. They might also have a neck to add more height. A lip is the part where the top flares out. Some vases even have handles to help you hold them.

Making a vase can happen in many ways. Long ago, people used a coiling method to build them. They worked clay into long, thin strips to make walls. This helped them make the walls smooth and strong.

Portland Vase V&A
Portland Vase V&A

Later, people began using a tool called a potter's wheel. This tool likely started in Mesopotamia during the 4th millennium BCE. It was a huge help for people in southern Iraq. This new way was much faster than old traditions.

Many different materials can make a beautiful vase. You might see them made of glass or crystal. Some are made of ceramic or fine porcelain.

The David Vases
The David Vases

People also use metal like brass or bronze. Even plastic and wood can be used today. Some wood, like teak, is used because it does not rot. In 2003, Grayson Perry won a big prize for his ceramics. His work often takes the shape of a vase.

Vases tell us stories about the past. In ancient Greece, artists used vase-painting to show myths. These paintings showed many figures in famous scenes.

Portland Vase V&A
Portland Vase V&A

These pieces are sometimes called jugs or cups too. Ceramic vases are often the only art left from old cultures. They help us see how people lived long ago. Vases connect our modern world to very old traditions.

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File:Portland Vase V&A.jpg
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The David Vases.jpg
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