Vases have been popular both outdoors and indoors since ancient times. Ancient vases were often used for cemetery purposes, but today we have many different types of vases for different uses. Vases can be made from anything from ceramic and porcelain to glass or metal. The most expensive vkind of ase in the world is the Ming vase.

Ming vases are considered very rare and valuable. They date back to China's final imperial dynasty of 1386 - 1644. These Ming ceramic pottery vases are mostly blue and white. A Ming vase can be urn-shaped or even bird-shaped. An unglazed ring inside a red-brown ring on the foot, or base, of the Ming vase marks it as a true Ming.

Ancient Greek pottery vases include distinctive and sophisticated paintings. By the eighth century BC, figures of humans were used on cemetery vases to mark graves. Attic vases are black and red-toned and include figures from Greek mythology such as Hercules. Greek vases often tell a story in the use of human and animal figures painted on the vases. Many ancient Greek vases feature handles on the widest part of the vase.

Glass vases can be clear or opaque. Crystal vases are often cut into intricate patterns. Glass vases are less expensive than crystal varieties and the large sized glass ones are often used today for dramatic fruit or floral displays. Bud vases can be made of glass, crystal, porcelain or ceramic and are tall and narrow. Bud vases are designed to hold a branch with a bud that will bloom into a full flower.

Ceramic pottery vases are often handmade and may have a rustic, earthy look to them. However, depending on the finish used, ceramic pottery can also look very sophisticated. Chinese porcelain vases are usually extremely detailed with a main color of red, yellow or blue.

Modern cemetery vases hold flowers placed at the memorial site and many are cylindrical, cone-shaped or urn-shaped. Some cemetery vases are designed to hold silk flowers rather than fresh flowers. Granite, marble, bronze and cast metals are common materials used for cemetery vases. Bronze is expensive and cast metals are less expensive.