Antique English Glass Hyacinth Vases

• England circa 1860, England circa 1860, England circa 1880, England circa 1840
• Dimensions: 7 1/2 inches tall, 8 inches tall, 9 inches tall, 8 inches tall

We will be describing these Antique English Glass Hyacinth Vases shown in the photo from left to right.

Antique Hyacinth Vases are specifically designed to cultivate hyacinth bulbs. As they progress in their growing period, it is so enjoyable to watch them grow and flower. Hyacinth vases were introduced during the Georgian era, and it was noted that Madame de Pompadour had a large collection in 1759. In various shapes and a wonderful variety of colors, these vases were quite popular during the Victorian period as well. At that time, many of the young women often would paint their vases in order to make them more colorful and decorative. Forcing hyacinths and other bulbs to bloom indoors was something of a Victorian passion that continued well into the 20th century and is still popular today. Following, these are the instructions for forcing hyacinths.

1. Fill the vase with water leaving the bulb just clear of the water.
2. Place the vase and bulb in a cool, dark ventilated place for approximately 12 to 14 weeks.
3. When the sprout is about 3 inches high, bring the vase into a warm room with subdued light. When the flower begins to show color, place it in a cooler spot to prolong flowering.
4. Maintain the water level to cover at least 3/4 of the beautiful root system and enjoy the beauty and fragrance of the hyacinth.

All of our hyacinth vases are in pristine condition. Each vase is represented by its age and one can see the slight variations that are made during each decade. The amber and both blue hyacinth vases have the pontil which continued up until about 1865-1870. A pontil is the rough piece that is left on the outside bottom of the vase. The presence of this piece indicates that it was blown freehand, while the absence of a mark suggests that it was done at a later time and by machine.

Our 2 blue hyacinth vases are quite striking with their deep color. Both of these vases are designed in a classic shape with a flared lip for resting the bulb over the water. Please note that the 2nd cobalt hyacinth vase is slightly larger than the one that is to the left of it.

Our yellow hyacinth vase is our tallest and also is the last one made – in the Victorian era.

Our amber hyacinth vase is our earliest one. It has a lovely shade of color.

Antique English Glass Hyacinth Vases were quite popular in an earlier age, are still popular now and look lovely in any setting.