Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with vase

How do I repair a broken crystal vase?

junipero — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:46:29 -0800

How do I cut or file down a crystal vase? Years ago a friend dropped and broke one of her most cherished crystal pieces that had belonged to her grandmother. She threw it away and was very upset. I took it out of her trash can, intending to somehow either repair it or make something out of it and surprise her.

Well, years have gone by, and my friend's son has just died. I found the old, broken vase in my closet and feel that it is now really time to follow through with my original plans. However...

...I have no idea what to do. When I search "cut crystal" on the internet I get a bunch of links on how to make crystal meth --- um, not really what I'm looking for.

The piece is a tall, thin vase that would probably be used for just a few flowers at a time. It has a base similar to a champagne flute, but without a shaft. Just the flute part sitting on the base part (really bad discription...sorry).

Really what I'm looking for are suggestions on how to cut off the base entirely. I know that crystal has lead in it (well, I think that is the case), so I'm a bit scared to use a hack saw to just cut the base off. I'm guessing it's not the best idea to breath in lead-laced dust.

I'd also like to drill a hole through the base and into the cavity of the vase. I'm thinking of turning it into a lamp somehow.

Anyway, any suggestions are welcome. I'm not well-versed in linking to photos, but I will try to do so so you can get an idea of what the piece looks like.

Specifics: 10 inches tall, base would have a 3 inch diameter if it were not broken, opening of flute has a 4 inch diameter; the part I would like to drill through looks to be about 1.75 inches, although that would reduce to about 1 inch if I cut the base off first.

Also, if this is important, I'm fairly certain this is a Waterford vase, probably from the 1930's or 1940's, but I really don't know that for sure. The colored part of the crystal is green.

Thanks!

Help me identify old pottery.

Baldons — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:41:19 -0800

Can you help me identify these two pieces of greek art, possibly located in Boston? Figure 1 - Figure 2 I need a catalogue number, a location, something. They're described, respectively, as "Boston vase" (see here) and "Boston amphora" (see here), so I'd guess they could be from Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. But I didn't find them in the museum's collection search.
My google-fu is failing. Can you help me? Can you help me search better next time?
Thanks, hive mefi.

help me choose decorative sticks

bananafish — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:29:22 -0800

Decorative Sticks: What's the right vase height to stick height ratio? I'm really bad at decorating/visuals. A friend had decorative sticks, like this and this, and I'm copying her, so my question is if, for example, I have 3' sticks, how high should the vase be? Bonus points if you know where I can buy a modern/contemporary vase and sticks together for under $100.

Cutting a Thick Oddly Shaped Bottle

Science! — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:27:15 -0800

How can I cut a thick oval glass bottle cleanly? I want to cut the neck and shoulders off of a large Bulleit bourbon bottle. This bottle is oval in shape and seems to be pretty thick. The goal is to be left with only the vertical sides and base which will be used as a wide mouth vase. That wiki picture is at an odd angle, but it shows what I want to remove.

I've read/watched videos on how to cut bottles using a heat and cold shock technique but no results I've seen are clean and even. At worst I can break out a glass cutter and just circle the bottle a few times, but I don't know how this bottle is going to snap when I score it.

I have access to a dremel tool and various hand tools, but no experience cutting anything other than flat planes of glass.

Blue Vase Mystery

zenpop — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:10:49 -0800

One final attempt. Anyone know where I can find this blue vase? Or a vase that's similar?

I've spent months trawling different online merchants that carry crystal and 'fine' art objects for the home -- from Orrefors to Target -- to no avail. So, finally, I've come to the MetaMinds collective.

Here's the object.

Does anyone have a clue?

Where can I buy a less generic flower vase in Seattle?

halogen — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:47:43 -0800

Where can one buy a beautiful flower vase that was not made in China? I would like to support a local Seattle artisan, but I am also willing to order online if it's love at first sight. We finally started hanging art on the walls of the apartment and putting more effort into living in a pretty, non-IKEA showroom home. We buy fresh flowers from Pike Place Market every Sunday and suddenly our plain flower vase looks exceedingly ugly.

Several years ago I was able to buy a gorgeous bud vase at an art studio sale in Houston, and since then I have found myself reluctant to buy genericana from places like Crate&Barrel or Williams Sonoma, if strictly on principle. Please recommend your favorite flower-vase making artists in Seattle or show me links to studios who don't sell their handmade stoneware/glassware to, well, Crate&Barrel.

Where can I find interconnected bud vases to hang on the wall?

vytae — Fri, 04 May 2007 07:55:59 -0800

Where can I find interconnected bud vases to hang on the wall? I have a vision of the perfect mother's day present, but I can't seem to find it anywhere. I'm looking for a piece that will either hang on the wall (preferable) or sit on the table. I want it to consist of a collection of small, clear glass bud vases (maybe an inch or so in diameter, a couple inches deep) all hooked together in an attractive manner, so a person could put small wildflowers in them. I'm imagining something like this or this, except for flowers instead of candles. Maybe a little less ornate, but I suppose beggars can't be choosers.

Oh, and since it just now occurred to me to ask you guys for help, after several weeks searching local stores and getting nowhere with google - anyplace that can ship it here in less than a week gets bonus points.

Cut Rose Care

danny boy — Mon, 14 Feb 2005 13:38:20 -0800

I just bought a dozen roses on my lunch break. Can't leave for work for 5 more hours. While I'm storing them in a glass of water, should I also snip the ends? Then do it again after surprising my sweetheart? Or just let them sit in peace?