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The home decor aisle at your neighborhood thrift store is often overflowing with a quirky assortment of miscellaneous finds—from mismatched pot lids and unusual figurines to partially used candles. But if you take the time to look beyond the clutter, you could stumble upon a hidden gem. One standout is the celery vase, a vintage crystal vessel decorated with delicate etched patterns that sparkle when they catch the light.
Most people would mistake it for an ordinary flower vase, but this charming antique once served a much more distinctive purpose. Long ago, owning one was considered a mark of wealth and refinement. Here's what experts have to say about the history of the celery vase—and why you shouldn't pass one up if you spot it on the secondhand store shelves (hint: it may be more valuable than you think).
History of the Celery Vase
Vintage celery vases are tall, cut-crystal (or sometimes ceramic) vases with a pedestal base, fluted rim, and intricate patterns, explains interior designer Emily Hodge. True to their name, they were used to display celery from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. Celery may seem a lowly vegetable—surely not as impressive as a perfect eggplant or heirloom tomato—but this stalky, fibrous food wasn’t always so commonplace.
“In the 19th century, celery was a very difficult and expensive crop to grow. Affluent families throughout England began to display celery in their homes as a symbol of status, and therefore a glass vessel fit this need and took on a style of its own,” notes Anna Lisa Dobbs, an interior designer, florist, and antique collector. “What makes these vases special is the footed or pedestal bases, crystal etched design, and scalloped edging. They are elegant articles that have a sense of luxury to them.”
Celery vases were often centerpieces that were, fittingly, filled with celery and put on display during the salad course. They were so cherished that they were even a luxury wedding gift to newlyweds, sometimes with names engraved on the base.
Nora Curl, appraisals and estate sale specialist for JustAnswer, says that by the beginning of the 20th century, the historic status of the elusive celery glass waned. This occurred because people figured out how to grow celery more easily, and also because mass production of pressed glass picked up.
Today, historic celery vases are finding their way back onto modern tables, arguably fueled by an uptick in thrifting culture, a renewed interest in classic entertaining (dinner parties are back!), a maximalist revival, and a collective love of conversation-starting antiques.
How Much Are Celery Vases Worth?
The value of a celery vase depends on when it was made and the intricacy of its crystal etching.
“Celery vases can easily be found at reasonable price points, being an average of $25 to $50,” Curl says. “Then there are some standouts that command high prices, especially early 19th-century engraved flint glass pieces. Some of these have sold at auction for $2,000 to $5,000.”
She adds that an engraved pair made specifically for the 1840 presidential campaign of William Henry Harrison—complete with a log cabin and American flag design—sold for $10,158 against an estimate of $5,000 to $8,000 at Jeffrey S. Evans auction house in 2021.
According to Curl, these are some of the most sought-after names of celery glass makers:
- Benjamin Bakewell & Co.
- Adams and Company
- Bakewell Page & Bakewell
- Challinor Taylor & Co.
- Richards and Hartley Flint Glass Co.
- Bakewell, Pears and Company
- The New England Glass Company
- Boston & Sandwich Glass Company
Designer Tips for Styling Celery Vases
You can always fill a celery vase with its intended vegetable, but feel free to get creative with it.
“The thing I love about implementing antiques in modern use is how we can rethink their purpose,” Dobbs says. “This vase was used as a way of highlighting a luxury crop, so what is luxury to us now?”
- Flower arrangements: This is one of the simplest and most effective ways to showcase a celery vase. Choose stems that complement the etchings, and don’t be afraid to go big.
- Hurricane vase: Dobbs loves the idea of using celery vases as hurricane votives to house a lit candle. “Imagine how beautiful a flame will look dancing within the glass etchings,” she says.
- Home bar decor: “These would also make a lovely accessory for your bar to act as an ice bucket,” Curl says. You could even fill it with celery for a Bloody Mary bar.
- Candy container: Fill a celery vase with wrapped candies and place it at the entryway or on a coffee table for a sweet treat that’s pretty, too.
- As part of a collection: “There’s no shame in finding a beautiful piece and letting it stand proudly on your china cabinet,” Hodge says. You can even collect a few and display them together.
