It's easy to dismiss vases when you're looking for a unique gift idea. Yet vases have been prized over the centuries for their beauty and design. Making the extra effort to find an unusual vase will reward you with an outstanding gift or collectible.

Vases have been important art forms in cultures dating back to the Egyptian culture. Beautiful Egyptian vases, made of ceramics, are exhibited at the British Museum in London and the Cairo Museum. The Egyptians were also famous for their gold jewelry and ceramic tableware.

Greek Vases

In ancient Greece, vase-making became one of the most revered art forms. Classical amphora depicting heroes such as Achilles, Ajax and Herakles were of black-figured clay. These archaic Attic vases are now priceless.

Vases in modern times can be anything from an exquisite leaded crystal vase from Waterford to a South American Indian ceramic vase. The web provides sites which sell all kinds of unique vases, porcelain and ceramic tableware. Skilled craftsmen from Cuenca, Ecuador, create Yapacunchi ceramic tableware, and feature many styles of vases.