Blogs

I'm always on the look-out for more hyacinth vases, both to use myself and to have to give as gifts. As the date the hyacinths are ready is uncertain, it's useful to have a few on hand to be able to give to people at a moment's notice. My windowsill is always sure to have new hyacinth vases recently purchased from ebay and my table is sure to have a cat.

a better look at just the hyacinth vases

This is my main bulb forcing windowsill where I started photographing my hyacinth vases almost 10 years ago. Many of my photos are quite identifiable because of the backgrounds (also my mantel and front window shown in photos below). I am upset that some people have stolen my photos and presented them as their own.  I am now watermarking my photos but there are still some photos of mine online that are not watermarked yet.  All my content, including photos and text is copyrighted, both at this site about hyacinth vases and my site www.gardenwithindoors.org.uk about actually using the vases to force hyacinths for Christmas (and www.gardenwithoutdoors.org.uk about gardening outdoors).

the mantel in my living room

by the front window

and I often organise my hyacinth vases on my patio table

Please do not use my photos without permission.

I think of the GP Tye vases as being quite sturdy but while preparing to use one last October (2017) I discovered one had a crack in it. Sometimes internal cracks are just internal but this one made itself known to me as all the water leaked out.  (I did post this photo as well on my bulb forcing blog as well so it's watermarked from that site).

this modern blue hyacinth vase in the centre is often erroneously described as antique/handblown/vintage but it was (still is?) sold retail from Two's Company, second photo shows the label on the bottom, it also comes in amethyst and green

I just bought the vase on the right from ebay, not sure the brand but obviously quite modern. Surprised I haven't come across it before. The chutney jar, although a bit small, is one I'm going to try using as a hyacinth vase later this year - you don't need to spend much to force a hyacinth bulb.

I was intrigued by this vintage vase on ebay recently. I've never seen this exact shape and cup. So, of course, I had to give it a proper try. The small posy (not even sure what to call it) I have no idea how it was meant to be used. Of course, I want to put small bulbs on the top, having filled it with water. I guess crocus would work. I'm not sure if that was the original purpose.

The forcing season is over so I am organising my vases. After sitting at the table on the patio it doesn't take long for the cats to start coming. One task is making sure the vases are properly labelled.

I have updated the Vase Shapes page including unique hyacinth vase shapes in the front row:

and some modern hyacinth vases

Some hand-blown hyacinth vases have a unique shape, not sure this shape even has a name. It is a bit different from the classic short squat shape (see previous blog entry). Nice kick-up and snapped off pontil mark. Great purple colour, not as dull as the usual "amethyst" Victorian glass colour.

I haven't bought a vintage hyacinth vase all year so far on ebay. I did see this brand new one (from Ravenhead Naturals) and was curious what it would be like. I show it here in comparison with the most common shapes/sizes of vintage vases. The teal vase in the centre is about 19 cm tall and the new clear one on the left is about a cm shorter at about 18 cm tall. I don't have a hyacinth bulb handy to show it with one but it does appear to have a good opening size to grow a hyacinth in which I will be doing later this year and will report back at www.gardenwithindoors.org.uk.

I knew I would be tempted to buy some more vases. I thought it would be interesting to compare the green one in the middle with the cobalt blue one on the left which I've had for a while. They are certainly very similar but not an exact match. The green one on the right doesn't sit quite right, a bit wobbly which makes me think hand-blown but no sign of a pontil mark on the base.

bases of the new vases, I guess the pontil mark on the right vase is polished or covered in some way, also no kick-up as I would have expected