Have you ever seen a vase like this?

This week I would like to discuss my mother’s favorite item to collect. Though she has several interests, our whole family helps her search for this beloved item…Lady Head vases. Including my sister-in-law who is not very interested in antiques, finds these vases very desirable as they are beautiful and unique.

Lady Head vases like many collectibles have an interesting history. Produced from 1940 to 1970 there is a wide variety of companies who produced them. Though the company Enesco was one of the biggest producers of the vases, many company’s also produced beautiful work such as Napco, Relpo, American Pottery’s, Lefton, Reubens, and Inarco. The vases were originally made for floral shops and gained their greatest popularity in the 50s to assist increasing sales.

Floral shops and retail stores could purchase the vases in bulk (either 6 or 12 to a case) for just a few dollars at this time. The ladies represent the fashion of the time wearing a variety of accessories such as necklaces, earrings, hats, scarves, tiaras, umbrellas or rings if the vases featured a manicured hand. Older vases are usually larger in size and newer smaller due to increasing manufacturing costs.

Today you can find these ladies at auctions, garage sales, flea markets, or thrift shops. However they are rare and can be sometimes difficult to find. Like many collectibles they can be worth just a few dollars to thousands depending on size, condition, rarity, and their markings. 

When purchasing collectibles you must a careful of reproductions, however unlike a piece of depression glass, lady head vase reproductions are easy to spot as they are poorly made and look vastly different from the originals. When purchasing such an item you will want to inspect the bottom of the vase to look for proper lettering or a sticker which will usually tell you what company made it, date, and item number.

I hope you have enjoyed this post!

*Photo above is of five ladies who are a part of my mother's collection.