Van Briggle Bud Vase: History, Value & Where to Buy

Van Briggle bud vases are the perfect entry point for new collectors — small, affordable, and available in the full range of matte glazes that made the pottery famous. These elegant single-stem vases capture all the artistry of larger Van Briggle pieces in a compact form, from flowing Art Nouveau relief work to the rich, velvety surfaces that distinguish the pottery’s best glazes.

Produced from the pottery’s earliest years through its closure in 2012, bud vases span every era of Van Briggle history. You can find them in Persian Rose, Ming Turquoise, Midnight Blue, Mulberry, and dozens of other glaze colors. Their small size made them economical to produce and easy to sell, which means they survive in large numbers today — good news for collectors on a budget.

Whether you are looking for your first Van Briggle piece or adding a specific glaze color to an existing collection, this guide covers the history of bud vase production, how to identify and date your piece, current market values, and where to find one.

Bud vases were among the earliest forms produced at the Van Briggle pottery. From the very beginning, Artus Van Briggle understood that small decorative pieces were essential to the pottery’s commercial viability. While ambitious sculptural works like the Lorelei and Despondency vases earned critical acclaim, it was the smaller, less expensive items that kept the business running day to day.

Bud vases required less clay, less kiln space, and less labor than larger forms, making them more economical to produce. They were also easier to sell — a customer who might hesitate at the price of a large vase could easily justify a small bud vase as a gift or decorative accent. This commercial logic meant bud vases were produced in quantity across every era of the pottery’s history.

The forms range from simple tapered cylinders to more elaborate designs featuring sculptural relief work — leaves, flowers, and organic tendrils wrapping around the vessel in classic Art Nouveau fashion. Some of the most sought-after bud vases feature the same quality of relief modeling found on the pottery’s larger and more celebrated pieces.

The Van Briggle blue bud vase — produced in various shades of blue matte glaze across different eras — is particularly popular among collectors. The blue glazes range from a soft, powdery periwinkle to a deep midnight blue, and they show off the sculptural relief work beautifully. Persian Rose and Ming Turquoise bud vases from the mid-century period are also widely collected.

Van Briggle bud vases carry the same bottom marks as the pottery’s larger pieces, making them relatively straightforward to identify and date. The small size of the base means marks are sometimes crowded or partially legible, but the same progression of marks applies across all eras.

What to Look For

• Small size: Bud vases typically stand between 3 and 7 inches tall. They are designed to hold a single stem or a small cluster of flowers, not a full bouquet.
• Standard bottom marks: Look for the conjoined “AA” monogram, “Van Briggle” or “VAN BRIGGLE,” and location marks that vary by era. Early pieces (pre-1920) may include hand-incised dates and Roman numerals.
• Most common today: The vast majority of bud vases you will encounter date from the 1950s through the 2000s. These are attractive and collectible, but priced well below earlier examples.
• Earlier examples (pre-1920): Much rarer and significantly more valuable. Look for hand-incised marks, earlier clay bodies, and finer glaze quality.

For a comprehensive guide to reading Van Briggle bottom marks across all eras, see our Markings & Identification Guide. For help pinpointing the exact decade your piece was made, consult our Dating Your Pottery guide.

Bud vases are among the most affordable Van Briggle pieces, making them an excellent starting point for new collectors. The following values reflect actual recent sales and current dealer asking prices.

Collector tip: Anna Van Briggle era green leaf bowl and bud vase sets occasionally surface as matched pairs. JustArtPottery has listed these sets at around $135 — an excellent value for two pieces with the distinctive Anna-era script mark. Matched sets are worth more than the individual pieces bought separately.

Bud vases are among the most commonly available Van Briggle items on the secondary market. Because they were produced in large quantities across every era of the pottery’s history, you should have no trouble finding examples at a range of price points.

eBay

eBay is the single best source for Van Briggle bud vases. At any given time, dozens of listings are available spanning modern production pieces under $30 to mid-century examples at $50–$150. Use the “Sold Items” filter to see what bud vases actually sell for rather than what sellers are asking. Set up saved searches with alerts to catch early examples when they surface.

Etsy

Etsy is another reliable source, particularly for mid-century bud vases. Vintage sellers on Etsy tend to price competitively and provide detailed photographs. Search for “Van Briggle bud vase” and filter by price to find pieces in your range.

Local Antique Shops & Flea Markets

Because bud vases are small, portable, and widely distributed, they turn up regularly in antique shops and flea markets across the country. Colorado Springs-area shops are particularly good hunting grounds, but Van Briggle bud vases can surface anywhere. The advantage of buying in person is that you can examine the bottom marks, glaze quality, and condition firsthand — and sometimes negotiate a better price than online listings.

Specialist Dealers

JustArtPottery regularly stocks Van Briggle bud vases and small forms, often with detailed era attributions and condition reports. For early or unusual examples, specialist dealers are worth the premium because they authenticate pieces and stand behind their attributions.