This type of decorative elements may not be found in today’s modern homes with the Art-Deco minimal style, metal elements, new fancy colours, minimal frames with quotes and similar. In the type of home like Christian Grey ‘s apartment in the movie ’50 shades of Grey’ you won’t find a decorative element like an Asian vase. You may see something of the kind, which will be extremely expensive and very rare, but that won’t be a decoration, but a piece for exhibition. And of course, will be placed on a special spot, with special lighting for it and will be off-limits for touching. However, some people like their homes designed in a more traditional way, and an Asian vase can easily make part of their interior design. Asian vases are expressive vessels; with their colours and perfectly drawn scenes on them, each one of them tells a special story. The fact that their origins are from the time of Chinese Emperors is even more interesting and a real treat for collectors and hipsters (they loooove things with story attached to them). Besides the colourful drawings on their surface, Asian vases characterize themselves with their form as well:
1. A Mei Ping Vase
Mei Ping actually means ‘plum vase’ , which is why in most pictures this vase is pictured in plum colour, to show the connection. It features large bosom and a narrow waist with a very delicate neck which dramatically opens to a broad shoulder and ends in a narrow mouth. The mouth was intended to hold a single plum blossom branch, showing the elegance and beauty of nature.
2. The Bottle Vase
This one has a bulbous belly that doesn’t touch the foot as much and balances the dramatically long neck. The Bottle vase expresses the yin and yang by harmoniously matching the completely different aesthetics in one silhouette. You can find this vase made from ceramic mainly, but scholars believe that ceramists were imitating similar silhouettes from bronze vessels.
3. Double Gourd
The double gourd vessel is an expression of the blend between nature, function and technical agility. The double gourd emerged as a result of the improved technique of chinese potters, as their shapes and sizes became a lot more elaborate and sophisticated. The main characteristic of this amazing Asian vase is its tubular mouth and neck gently carved from the graceful curves of the double gourd.
4. The Fish Pond/Dragon Urn
The fish pond is kind of a modern alternative to an aquarium. These urns are mainly rendered with straight sides and a squared lip, or are slightly rounded with a large round lip. Their most eye catchy characteristic is their ornamentation, which is colourful and mainly pictures a dragon chasing a flaming pearl, or some other natural scene, like butterflies.
5. The Phoenix Tail Vase
Another vase that celebrates women. With its feminine shape and its delicate hourglass form, this vase was first made with celadon in the Yuan dynasty. In order for the piece to maintain its balance, the vase has an exaggerated mouth and belly. This vase is significantly smaller than the dragon urn for example, but its design and phoenix tail form show the potter’s skills and craftmanship.