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I love these Victorian terracotta hyacinth vases. They're obviously not to everyone's taste but I also love Victorian terracotta pots in the garden so these are definitely for me. There are 3 different figures around the vase which are just transfers - one can see where they don't match up exactly - but I think that's part of the charm of transferware and it makes for consistency of these items. See ceramic hyacinth vases for more .

base of the vase

great find on ebay this week, mint in box 1960s plastic hyacinth vases

they have separate bulb holders that go on top of the lower part of the vase

Of course, I'll be using these to force hyacinth bulbs, see gardenwithindoors for details. I also have some Stewart plastic hyacinth vases which I bought retail in the late 1980s / early 1990s from a garden centre. I did use them regularly until last year when I thought they were looking a bit fragile, each have a crack although they still held water. Will find photos.

I've gotten all my crocus vases out, ready to use them for forcing but like to document what they are first. I didn't do any crocus last year and maybe not for a few years before so I haven't had the crocus vases all together for a while - and of course there are new additions. Looking carefully, excluding the obviously taller one on the left, there are about 3 different crocus vases in the front, slightly different heights and base thickness.

this glass posy intrigues me - how was it meant to be used? of course, I'll stick a bulb in or on anything feasible but was that its original intention? although it seems high quality and heavy glss the polishing of the holes in uneven, some are polished more than others

and the base is polished, I assume where it will sit flat

see gardenwithindoors for my experiemnts using it

I think I missed documenting some new hyacinth vases. The one on the left is small and inexpensive and I wanted to try it. The one on the right is a vintage shape I call "teardrop". It would be quite difficult to tell if it's vintage or modern. The label on the bottom gives it away.

The label on the bottom of the teardrop vase reveals it is modern - but a good reproduction in my opinion.

An unexpected trip to the antiquest fair at Alexandra Palace yielded some treasure. The tall vase on the left I'm sure is 19th century. I've not seen that exact shape before with the rim at the top. The middle vase I'm not even sure if it's a hyacinth vase but the colour is exquisite, deep purple/blue cobalt blue although my camera has not captured it. It's a better blue than the vase on the left. And I'm sure it will work fine as a hyacinth vase. On the right is a Tye vase I happened to have on the window sill which I've included for comparison.

the new vase bases, snapped off pontil mark on the tall vase, smooth base on the middle vase

kick-up detail inside the antique vase

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

a closer look at those plastic hyacinth vases in the back above

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.