an Ionic column ice vase at a wedding reception in New Orleans with a VERY large floral arrangement on top (by the Plant Gallery, New Orleans)
updated 10/31/23 with a floral video from Ice Pro and 7/16/23 with seo, reformatting, and a bit of new info and links
iconic Ionic column vase ice sculpture design 😉
Ice and flowers go very well together and so ice vases are very popular. Early in my ice sculpting career, I came up with this column/vase combo that I initially called my Roman column vase. Well, it turns out that I was kind of a moron. What I was thinking was Roman was actually way more Ionic, and it was GREEK. So I was making a modified ionic column vase ice sculpture. I don’t remember when I realized this, but I quietly changed what I called it, lol.
Now this is not where I got corrected, but this page on Greek architectural orders does a very complete job of explaining Greek columns (Doric and Corinthian too) and what they’re supporting, building-wise. I’ve also embedded a video below. Notice they NEVER say “Roman column” anything, so I was a misinformed doofus.
be careful with ice vases!
Unfortunately, tall vases are often top-heavy and can be dangerous. If you look at the template of this vase, you’ll notice that there’s more mass in the top half of the sculpture. This means that the base is crucial. Vases must be very stable and I often add more ice to the base to make sure that there’s no possibility that the sculpture could come down. Incidentally, my caution is well-founded. Many years ago (more than ten), I did have a vase come down once AFTER the event was over. I was taking down another sculpture and I heard a big crash. I lucked out: no one was around it and it didn’t damage anything except itself.
adding flowers to your ice vase
Another important part of dealing with ice vases is the ice-floral juncture. Instead of cutting a hole in the sculpture, I make every vase with a very flat top. The florist has been advised of this in advance and knows that the arrangement must be in a container with a flat plastic bottom that’s not too large for the sculpture. For this vase, I usually suggest a flat 10” plate. You could also get away with a 12” plate. I also suggest to the florist that it would look better if the arrangement had parts that hang down a little bit below the plate, so that the plate and napkin are hidden from view. Watch the video below for more.
Joe Rimer from Ice Pro Ice Sculptures shows how most ice sculptors make an ice sculpture into an “ice vase.”
I usually shift the template my Ionic column vase ice sculptures to the one side of the block, in an attempt to save ice. However, if you put it in the middle and widen the base, that will add to its stability.
Going with a flat top makes it easier on you and on the florist. If you cut a hole, then you or the florist almost always has to make some sort of adjustment. In addition, you both have to be there. This way, the florist can drop off the arrangement in advance and it’s really no problem. Also, I’ve NEVER had anyone comment that the vase isn’t hollow and that it looks weird because of that. For some reason, nobody seems to notice or care.
Before the arrangement is placed on top of the vase, I make sure top is level and I put a folded cloth dinner napkin on top of it to keep the arrangement from moving. After it’s in place, I make sure that everything, including the arrangement, is stable and that nothing looks dangerous. If it’s dangerous, then I make changes until it’s not.
links and stuff
If you have any questions about my Ionic column vase ice sculpture design, email me or comment below. (It might not let you though.) If you would like to use this ice sculpture design or any other design on this site, please check the design usage guidelines. The design collection page lists designs on the site.
You might also find photos and info from this entry on the ice sculpting secrets Instagram account and you can comment there as well as below. Thanks!
earlier comments
The following comment was on the original blog entry. After some technical difficulties etc., the blog was reconstructed, and this was the only way to keep the original comments. Unfortunately, the hyperlinks from the original comments are gone in some cases. You can add your own new comments at the bottom.
David Bromley
I’ve had good luck using an inexpensive white washcloth–wet, then folded flat, as the interface between the ice and the floral arrangements. The “nap” of the washcloth does a good job of grabbing the ice and the floral arrangement.
Monday, June 30, 2008 – 03:28 PM
