Antique WMF Celery Vase

A handsome survivor from the grand dining rooms of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this Antique WMF Silverplate and Cut Glass Celery Vase recalls an era when what today might seem one of the humblest of vegetables was afforded a place of honor at the table.

For most of the 19th century in Europe and the United States, the leafy, elegantly erect stalks of celery rising from specially dedicated vases like this one would be proudly displayed in Victorian and Edwardian dining rooms. Celery was a fashionable offering as well as a sign of prosperity. It was a fiddly-to-grow, highly prized culinary commodity.

It would be nearly the 1960s before refrigeration became standard in many middle-class European homes, so celery vases remained a regular feature of well-appointed tables into the Edwardian era, when they began to fall out of favor as shifts in agricultural practices and produce distribution made celery more widely available.

Celery vases were popular wedding gifts, sometimes etched with the newlyweds' initials. Etiquette manuals even specified that celery should be displayed prominently during the salad course.

Produced by the renowned German firm Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik (WMF), this elegant example pairs sparkling cut glass with a refined silver-plated mount. The tall glass body is beautifully decorated with geometric wheel-cut patterns that catch and scatter the light, while the silverplate frame rises gracefully upon three distinctive ball feet. The scalloped rim lends a soft flourish to the silhouette, creating a lovely balance between structure and ornament.

Today, this versatile vessel is equally at home holding fresh celery, asparagus, breadsticks, flowers, or seasonal greenery. Combining the practical ingenuity and exceptional craftsmanship for which WMF became famous, this charming piece brings a touch of Edwardian elegance to any table, sideboard, or kitchen gathering space.

Strictly one-of-a-kind and subject to prior sale. In very good antique condition. 4 1/4"D x 7 1/2"H.