The home decor section at your local charity shop is usually packed with an eclectic mix of odds and ends like retro tea sets, outlandish figurines and trinket boxes. But tucked behind those stacks of knick-knacks, you might just uncover something special. Enter: the celery vase.
At first glance, you might assume these crystal pieces, with their intricate etchings that catch and reflect the light, are just another vessel for displaying fresh flowers. In reality, this elegant antique once carried a very particular meaning as a status symbol.
Here's what experts say about this historical piece – and why you may want to think twice before leaving one behind (spoiler: it could be quite valuable).
A quick history of the celery vase
Vintage celery vases are tall, cut-crystal (or sometimes ceramic) vases with a pedestal base, fluted rim and intricate patterns, explains interior designer Emily Hodge. As their name suggests, they were used to display celery in the Victorian era.
Celery may seem a humble vegetable – surely not as impressive as a perfect eggplant or heirloom tomato – but this stalky, fibrous food wasn’t always so commonplace.
'In the 19th century, celery was a very difficult and expensive crop to grow. Affluent families throughout England began to display celery in their homes as a symbol of status, and therefore a glass vessel fit this need and took on a style of its own,' explains Anna Lisa Dobbs, an interior designer, florist and antique collector.
Celery vases, filled with celery, were often used as centrepieces during the salad course. They were so cherished that they were even a luxury wedding gift to newlyweds, sometimes with names engraved on the base.
According to Nora Curl, a trusted authority in fine art, antiques, and estate appraisals, the vase's status began to wane in the early 20th century, as people figured out how to grow celery more easily and the mass production of pressed glass picked up.
Today, historic celery vases are finding their way back onto modern tables, arguably fuelled by an uptick in secondhand culture, the rise of entertaining, a maximalist revival, and a collective love of conversation-starting antiques.
How much are celery vases worth?
The value of a celery vase depends on when it was made and the intricacy of its crystal etching.
'Celery vases can easily be found at reasonable price points, being an average of £18 to £40,' Nora says. 'Then there are some standouts that command high prices, especially early 19th-century engraved flint glass pieces. Some of these have sold at auction for £1,500 to £3,500.'
According to Nora, these are some of the most sought-after names of celery glass makers:
- Benjamin Bakewell & Co.
- Adams and Company
- Bakewell Page & Bakewell
- Challinor Taylor & Co.
- Richards and Hartley Flint Glass Co.
- Bakewell, Pears and Company
- The New England Glass Company
- Boston & Sandwich Glass Company
Designer tips for styling a celery vase
You can always fill a celery vase with its intended vegetable, but feel free to get creative with it. 'The thing I love about implementing antiques in modern use is how we can rethink their purpose,' Anna Lisa says. 'This vase was used as a way of highlighting a luxury crop, so what is luxury to us now?'
- Flower arrangements: This is one of the simplest and most effective ways to showcase a celery vase. Choose stems that complement the etchings, and don’t be afraid to go big.
- Hurricane vase: Anna Lisa loves the idea of using celery vases as a hurricane votive to house a lit candle. 'Imagine how beautiful a flame will look dancing within the glass etchings,' she says.
- Home bar decor: 'These would also make a lovely accessory for your bar to act as an ice bucket,' Anna Lisa says. You could even fill it with celery for a Bloody Mary bar.
- Candy container: Fill a celery vase with wrapped sweets and chocolate and place it at the entryway or on a coffee table for a treat that looks pretty, too.
- As part of a collection: 'There’s no shame in finding a beautiful piece and letting it stand proudly on your china cabinet,' Emily says. You can even collect a few and display them together.
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