Containers, pots for displaying  plants have existed from as early as the Sung dynasty as early as AD 960 to 1281 approximately. It was in Europe that potters were making such these type of containers, pushed on by the import of exotic plants in which the rich society used for display of their plants in their homes.  It was an area that later introduced majolica statues and seats also other objects that attract the collector of today.

Vases for the display of  tulips were first made in 17th century Holland. Rare blue and white Delft pyramids with a separate hole for each flower can change hands at auction for up to £30,000.  Flower bricks dating from the 1750s could have been used for small bulbs.  They were the forerunner of the semi circular bough pots made by most English and French porcelain factories in the late 18th and 19th centuries,  these had a loose metal liner and a separate pierced cover, in some cases the holes in the cover are tiny for flower stems., but others are quite big to let the bulbs sit on top.  Today Bough Pots can fetch up to £300--£3000. 

There where other pots that were decorative and used in the home these where called Jardinière's, and came from the French Jardin meaning Garden.  The term applies to a wide range of containers, from small bucket shaped pots on stands lick saucers, to huge bowls on stands.  But strictly speaking Jardinière's  have holes for drainage, those that do not have holes are called cache pots.  Jardinière's  from the 18th century held artificial trees with porcelain or paper flowers.

Large glazed examples of Jardinière's primarily heavily glazed were made in most countries, especially in Britain, where a lot of middle classed families had flowers and ferns showing in their living room or conservatory.  A lot of Minton majolica pieces were made from around 1850.  Other  manufactures followed especially in Germany and France,  where Clement massier and Theodore Deck combined majolica glazes with painted decoration.

Today Victorian jardinière's can range for £300--£10,000 for the most eccentric designs by the best known makers  Other items were stools and statues and also life-sized modelled animals as well as jardinière's, can also be found in majolica,  for example a Minton seat may fetch approximately £4000 pounds and a large animal up to £30,000 pounds.  Barrel shaped seats were also made in 19th century blue and white earthenware, copying the Chinese porcelain originals, but they would not stand the harsh weather, any you find now are kept indoors.

Ceramic sculptures and ornaments where produced as cheap alternatives to stone and bronze, but these were not hard wearing and this can make them look older than they are.  Far more durable are garden statues in Coade stone, a form of highly fired stoneware of the late 18th century, these latter were made by Doulton's who manufactured hard wearing sanitary  ware they are sometimes finished with strong coloured glazes that keep their brilliance.

Just when the industry had made weatherproof materials, new forms of concrete was developed to cast figures especially gnomes and this was cheaper,  as a result ceramic statues are rare.