I have dozens of glass containers for flowers and untold numbers of wood-fired stoneware vases. They all pretty much fade into the woodwork and let the flowers shine. But sometimes the container just announces its presence and doesn't want to play a totally supporting role.
When it comes down to it, it's really the shape of this Chinese ceramic container that's dramatic, not its color — which is sophisticated but subdued. There's a thick twisting vine forming the feet and running up the sides of the vase which is pod shaped, like a giant star fruit. Hanging off the vine and dripping down the side of the container are smaller pod shapes. I finally figured out that one dramatic culm of bamboo worked better than all the combinations of flowers and leaves I first tried. A bit of simplicity to let the shape shine.
I bought the vase during one of my last visits to Spirals Antiques and Interiors on Monroe St. before Carol Nowell-Steele closed up shop at the end of June. Over the years I've bought countless items from Spirals — jewelry, glassware, books, textiles, furniture, you name it — and almost everything has been pretty subtle in both color and style. But sometimes your heart cries out for zany decoration, and Carol always had a bit of that, too. I miss her and her wonderful wares already.
Ha, I thought the pods were part of the arrangement. Beautiful vase.
Posted by: Lisa at Greenbow | Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 10:23 AM