• Vases can be used for holding flowers or as a standalone decoration.John Slater/Digital Vision/Getty Images
  
  Vases have been around for thousands of years and are still common today. Many different types of vases are sold, from the famed Grecian urns to the modernistic, blown-glass art vases made by craftsmen of today. While they are often seen simply as a container for flowers, vases can accent the bouquet or even be used alone, displayed for their own beauty. Whatever type of vase you are looking for, you can find something to fit your needs.
  
  

Glass Vases

• The most common type of vase is the glass vase. Most flower vases are glass -- either clear, etched or carved into crystal. They come in all shapes and sizes, from thin, single-stem bud vases to vases large enough to hold dozens of roses. They can be any color and often have scalloped sides or fluted rims.
  
  

Ceramic and Pottery Vases

• Vases made from pottery or ceramic can be used for holding flowers, but more often they are simply decorations in their own right. Different types of materials and glazes create a variety of decorative effects. Some pottery vases have polished stones or chips of glass embedded in the clay to create a mosaic pattern. Artists often hand-paint elaborate scenes on ceramic vases.
  
  

Metal Vases

• Metal vases are also generally decorative as opposed to used for holding fresh-cut flowers. Usually made of copper or brass, but sometimes other metals, they can be nearly any shape and often have intricate designs. Most wall vases are metal.
  
  

Other Vases

• Other materials used for making specialty decorative vases include wood, bamboo and even stone. Vases come from nearly every culture around the world, and a style of vase can be found to fit nearly any theme or decorating scheme.