By the 1960's, everyone's mother, aunt, or grannie had a lady head vase somewhere in the house!  These beautiful women were originally used by florists for small bunches of flowers the way glass bud vases are used today, but unlike their contemporary counterparts that get shoved under the sink, or into the back of the closet, these little ladies usually became a permanent part of the decor.

Most of these semi-porcelain vases were mass produced in Japan, and sold to American jobbers who distributed them throughout the country.  Japanese manufacturers included Ensco, Inarco, Rubens, Irice, Relpo and Lefton.  In America, lady head vases were made by Betty Lou Nichold and Holt Howard.  These were handmade and handpainted, and are generally of higher quality than those made in Japan.

Some vases were marked on the bottom with an inked backstamp under the glaze, but just as many were marked with paper labels that have long since vanished.  For the curious, the best way to determine the manufacturer is with the help of a collector book, or, (believe it or not!) a Lady Head website!  However, as with any beauty pagent, the winners are chosen by looks, not pedigree, and with a few exceptions, the highest prices go to the prettiest ladies.

Collectors want gorgeous ladies that are beautifully made up with elaborate coiffures.  Many came adorned with jewels, including necklaces, earrings, and even the occasional ring, and ladies without their original gems bring lower prices.  Damage also lowers the price, which conversely means that examples with lots of protruding parts such as hats, gloved hands, bows, curls, ruffles, etc. that are in perfect condition bring some of the highest prices.

During the heyday of the lady head craze, top celebrities were turned into the most popular vases, including Lucille Ball, Jackie Kennedy, and Marilyn Monroe.  Disney characters were also popular.  These included Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, and Mary Poppins.

Values can fall anywhere from $10 for a common vase with slight damage to as much as $2,000 for Marilyn.  As with any collectible, values are highest for those pieces with cross-over appeal.