I first saw swung vases on Instagram. I don’t remember how I landed there, but the algorithm usually knows what it’s doing with me. The photos were almost always from people with massive collections. Shelves, windowsills, entire rooms full of them. At the time, I didn’t realize just how much vintage glass still exists in the world, quietly circulating. That realization came later, and honestly, it made me a little sad.
We have stores like At Home mass-producing decor by the truckload, and people eat it up, while pieces like these, legitimate treasures, are hiding in flea markets, estate sales, and basements all over the place.
I’m drawn to swung vases and colored glass because there really isn’t anything like this being made today. When you think of glass, you think clear. Maybe boring. Colored glass already feels like a small rebellion, and swung vases take that even further. Because of how they’re made, pulled, stretched, shaped while the glass is still hot, no two are ever exactly the same. Even when they’re technically the same model, they don’t behave the same way. That one-of-a-kind quality is what hooked me. I wasn’t just intrigued. I was genuinely moved by them, which feels dramatic to say about glass, but here we are.
I started collecting when I found my first swung vase in the wild at a flea market. Actually, I didn’t spot it. My boyfriend did. He pointed it out, I walked over, picked it up, and bought it without overthinking it. That was kind of it for me.
After that, I started paying attention. I started looking into swung vases more intentionally, learning to recognize shapes and colors, noticing them when they showed up unexpectedly. This is something I hope to keep collecting slowly, mostly through finds in the wild. I did buy two of the three I’m sharing here online, but they were well priced and local, which still felt aligned with how I want to do this. I want to remember where each one came from. I don’t want it to turn into hunting or hoarding. Slow feels right.
I’m only sharing three right now because that’s what feels manageable to talk about, not because this collection is finished or even defined yet.
A Quick Note on L.E. Smith Glass Company
L.E. Smith was one of the major American glass manufacturers producing swung vases during the mid-20th century, and once you start looking, their work shows up everywhere. They’re known for bold colors, exaggerated shapes, and bases that feel almost architectural. Their swung vases are often dramatic without being delicate, which I appreciate. They’re very recognizable. That combination makes them easy to fall into as a collector, even if you didn’t mean to.
Viking Thistle Pink 3 Foil Swung Vase
This was the one that really made me stop. The thistle pink is soft, but feels bold once you look at the base. The three-foil shape gives it movement without feeling chaotic, and somehow still reads as modern. In different light, the color shifts just enough to keep it interesting. It feels feminine without being sugary, which is a hard balance to strike, especially with pink.
This is a vase that doesn’t need flowers to justify itself. It already knows what it’s doing.
L.E. Smith Rose Pink Diamond Butt Swung Vase
This one is slightly unhinged in the best way. The diamond butt base completely changes the personality of the vase. It feels familiar and dramatic at the same time. The rose pink is moody, and the shape makes it feel like it’s posing. This is not a background piece. It wants space. It wants to be noticed. And honestly, I respect that.
Unfortunately, while I was cleaning it, I accidentally broke off a piece of her. It’s large, and when I lifted it up, the mouth hit a kitchen cabinet handle in exactly the wrong spot. I’m still upset with myself.
Oddly enough, if the cat or even another person breaks something of mine, I don’t get as upset as you might expect. I usually treat those moments like it was meant to be. No one in my life is intentionally breaking my things. It bothered me more that I did it myself, even though it was an accident.
L.E. Smith Clear Swung Vase
Clear glass still slaps. This one proves it. Without color to lean on, the shape does all the work. It reminds me of Captain Planet when he’s summoned, kind of like water forming into something powerful. By the power of the monies in my wallet combined! Lol.
This swung feels like the poster child of swung vases to me. I found it on Facebook Marketplace. I think the seller used a bunch of different vases as wedding centerpieces and needed them gone. To my surprise, she knew exactly what kind of vase this was and was still willing to part with it for a ridiculous price. It makes me wonder what else she has in her house.
Conclusion
Collecting has changed how I look at things. I notice glass now in a way I didn’t before. Shapes, bases, colors that would’ve blended into the background a year ago stand out immediately. When I see swung vases elsewhere, online, in shops, in other people’s homes, I automatically have something to say about them.
I’m also getting better at leaving things behind. Not everything needs to come home with me just because it’s old or interesting.
This collection is staying slow on purpose. I’m enjoying not finishing it. I like that it’s still unfolding and a little undefined. I’m letting it grow through attention rather than pursuit, and for once, that feels like enough.
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