Design-fan-about-town Zoe extols the wistful virtues of a teeny tiny vase for autumn.

Shan Annabelle Valla

Two weekends ago, enjoyng the last of the summer, I visited the contemporary craft fair Origin in London’s Spitilfields market.

I was delighted, more than anything, by some little vases made especially for single flowers. Out of nowhere I was struck by the romantic image of picking wild flowers in the countryside and returning to a beauty table with a clothes brush, and a jewelry holder, and a tissue box, and other pretty little trinkets to rearrange. It struck me as something of a sadness that the days of the dressing table and all its feminine little treats are long gone – and summer maybe over but daydreams in the sunshine are not. So why not keep a little flower alive in its own delicate vase and brighten up days of cold and grey skies.

The vases which aided my imagination include: the beautifully paterned ceramic bud vases by Cynthia Vardhan; the elegant and minimalist Kishu vase by Maya Selway, who – by using cooper and silver – has appeared to create just the outline of a vase; the neat and geometrical metal vases from Niklas Ejve; and more porcelain delights from Shan Annabelle Valla.

Cynthia Varden

Maya Selway

Niklas Evje

Then I came across this image by Petra Collins from her album the female gaze, which reminded me of an eerie version of the look I had in mind.

Still – one of Cyhthia Vardhan or Shan Annabelle Valla’s vases wouldn’t go amiss.