Collecting Head Vases
Head vases were very popular back in the 1940’s through the 1960’s. Florists bought them by the hundreds and used them as inexpensive planters. Not only economical they came in every different style you could imagine.
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There is such a large variety of head vases that some people will start collecting in just one category. Perhaps just child head vases, or holiday head vases or maybe just elegant lady head vases but it‘s not long before you become addicted and start broadening the variety of your collection.
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The elegant lady head vases are my favorite. They usually have long extended eyelashes, they have ruby lipstick and peaches and cream completions. Generally they have an arm extended towards their faces with their hand laid gently beside their cheek or maybe both hands with their chin resting on them. They have faux pearl necklaces and stud or dangle type faux pearl earrings.
The elegant lady head vases are my favorite. They usually have long extended eyelashes, they have ruby lipstick and peaches and cream completions. Generally they have an arm extended towards their faces with their hand laid gently beside their cheek or maybe both hands with their chin resting on them. They have faux pearl necklaces and stud or dangle type faux pearl earrings.
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There are some very famous people who have been honored with a look-alike head vase. Lucille Ball, Charlie Chaplain, Benjamin Franklin, Marilyn Monroe, and John & Jackie Kennedy are some of the famous vase created.
There are some very famous people who have been honored with a look-alike head vase. Lucille Ball, Charlie Chaplain, Benjamin Franklin, Marilyn Monroe, and John & Jackie Kennedy are some of the famous vase created.
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If you are a true head vase collector, your eyes just tend to seek them out at every flea market, yard sale and antique show. You can’t stop yourself from browsing eBay to try to pick up a few more to add to the collection. However you must keep in mind, when purchasing a head vase the condition will dictate the value and there is a big range from the poor grade to the near mint.
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There are marked head vases and unmarked, there are head vases such as the type Betty Lou Nichols created that can be identified just by the style. Many head vases came from Japan, and many of them were made by top of the line pottery manufacturers such as Shawnee and Royal Copley just to name a few.
There are marked head vases and unmarked, there are head vases such as the type Betty Lou Nichols created that can be identified just by the style. Many head vases came from Japan, and many of them were made by top of the line pottery manufacturers such as Shawnee and Royal Copley just to name a few.
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These head vases are extremely collectible today. Buyer beware, there are quite a few reproductions floating around. They have remakes and lots of new headvases, the Cameo Girls beign one brand, which by the way are also quite collectible. If you are thinking about collecting there are a few good research books to buy or check out at your local library. David & Yvonne Barron, Kathleen Cole and Maddy Gordon are all head vase collectors that have written books on the topic. Identifying pictures and values are always a big help to the new collector.
