Vases first appeared in Ancient Greece. These unusually shaped containers were made of clay and decorated with painted patterns or sculpted embellishments. Vases were used to store food and drinks. In ancient times, there were many varieties of vessels that differed in shape and use, each with its own name. Small vases (amphorettes) were made from layered sardonyx with a carved surface. They were considered the most expensive and were used to store oils, cosmetics, and perfumes.

On Crete, olive oil and grain were stored in large amphorae with a tapered, pointed bottom. There was no need to place them upright, as they were kept in special storerooms with deep pits. All of them were made of clay, which was the primary material for household containers.

Later, vases began to be made of silver, gold, and marble. The vases of the 18th century, created in the Rococo style, could reach quite large sizes. As is known, this style featured extravagance and high decorative quality, with a multitude of details. Antique vases from that era had intricate shapes and various decorations. In the early 19th century, the courtly Empire style came into fashion. In decorative applied arts, gold and gilded bronze were abundantly used, along with motifs from ancient Rome and Egypt.

Vases in the Art Nouveau style from the late 19th and early 20th centuries were characterized by more rounded shapes and outlines. During this period, craftsmen often made items from porcelain and glass. In the 20th century, vases were created under the influence of new styles and movements in art. With the emergence of Cubism, products in the shape of cylinders and cubes began to appear. Abstract art also influenced the creation of decorative applied art objects.

The flower vase in the shape of a cup from the collection of the Museum of Local Lore was made in the 19th century on a marble base. The craftsmen decorated it with sculptural representations of the heads of satyrs, characters from Greek mythology and forest deities. The use of gilded bronze, marble, and the choice of decor indicate the Empire style. Similar items were produced in the Russian Empire, for example, at the Peterhof Lapidary Factory.