Czech White Cased Over Cranberry

Defying design conventions and embracing all tastes, Bohemian style, or Boho style, is eclectic, bold and, above all, individual. Vintage Bohemian-style furniture and decor feature bright colors, natural materials and a global spirit, ranging from statement pieces such as peacock chairs constructed with wicker and handmade art-glass vases to jewel-toned plush seating like turquoise sofas.

Although Bohemian furniture is not rooted in a specific time and can include Victorian lamps alongside Space Age chairs, its name dates back to the 19th century. Its exact origins are unclear, with some sources linking it to a counterculture formed in the wake of the French Revolution and others to a pejorative for the Romani people in France who were erroneously believed to be from Bohemia, which was part of what is now the Czech Republic.

By the 1850s, “bohemian” was used to describe someone who led an itinerant life, usually an artist, actor or author. This helped shift the term from disparaging to something romantic and evoking creativity, culture and travel. In the 20th century, to be a bohemian was fashionable, and the celebration of free expression in the 1960s gave the Bohemian style a hippie flair. It has remained popular over the years, especially with younger generations seeking to express their personality and individual perspective through furniture, folk art, antiques and other collectibles.

A Bohemian interior exuberantly mixes textures and patterns, particularly through textiles from around the world in tapestries, rugs and upholstery. Bohemian decor can include Japanese shibori, Indonesian ikat and Kazakhstani suzani prints mingling with Moroccan lanterns, Turkish carpets and wall hangings from India. Saturated earthy colors like burnt orange and marigold yellow are common to bring together the mix of vintage, modern and global design.

Find a collection of vintage Bohemian tables, mirrors, rugs and carpets, decorative objects and more furniture on 1stDibs.

Whether it’s a Chinese Han dynasty glazed ceramic wine vessel, a work of Murano glass or a hand-painted Scandinavian modern stoneware piece, a fine vase brings a piece of history into your space as much as it adds a sophisticated dynamic. 

Like sculptures or paintings, antique and vintage vases are considered works of fine art. Once offered as tributes to ancient rulers, vases continue to be gifted to heads of state today. Over time, decorative porcelain vases have become family heirlooms to be displayed prominently in our homes — loved pieces treasured from generation to generation.

The functional value of vases is well known. They were traditionally utilized as vessels for carrying dry goods or liquids, so some have handles and feature an opening at the top (where they flare back out). While artists have explored wildly sculptural alternatives over time, the most conventional vase shape is characterized by a bulbous base and a body with shoulders where the form curves inward.

Owing to their intrinsic functionality, vases are quite possibly versatile in ways few other art forms can match. They’re typically taller than they are wide. Some have a neck that offers height and is ideal for the stems of cut flowers. To pair with your mid-century modern decor, the right vase will be an elegant receptacle for leafy snake plants on your teak dining table, or, in the case of welcoming guests on your doorstep, a large ceramic floor vase for long tree branches or sticks — perhaps one crafted in the Art Nouveau style — works wonders.

Interior designers include vases of every type, size and style in their projects — be the canvas indoors or outdoors — often introducing a splash of color and a range of textures to an entryway or merely calling attention to nature’s asymmetries by bringing more organically shaped decorative objects into a home.

On 1stDibs, you can browse our collection of vases by material, including ceramic, glass, porcelain and more. Sizes range from tiny bud vases to massive statement pieces and every size in between.