What is a spill vase used for?

Spill vases held tightly rolled paper or thin wood splints called spills. People used these to transfer fire from the hearth to light candles or pipes. You'll usually find them on mantelpieces where they were kept close to the fire. They tend to be smaller than flower vases and often lack a flared rim.

I have a pair of large porcelain vases with metal bases and handles, how do I safely clean the dust out of the crevices?

Start with a soft bristle brush. Dusting dry is always safer than introducing moisture to antique mounts. Gently brush the crevices of the metal handles and base while holding a vacuum nozzle a few inches away to catch the loose dust. Avoid liquid metal polishes. These can seep between the metal and the porcelain body, leaving a white residue that is nearly impossible to remove.

How do I remove cloudiness inside?

That cloudiness is usually limescale from standing water. Soak the inside with a mixture of white vinegar and warm water. Swirling a handful of dry rice with the liquid acts as a mild abrasive.

There is a small hole drilled straight through the bottom of my ceramic vase, does this mean it was originally made for something else?

A hole in the base usually means the vase was converted into a lamp during the twentieth century. Electricians drilled through the bottom to run the power cable up to the bulb fitting. Some vases were drilled to be used as plant pots, allowing water to drain. If the hole looks rough and chips the glaze, it was done long after the piece left the factory.

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Antique Vases from the 19th Century

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Antique vases range from simple earthenware vessels to elaborate porcelain and glass centerpieces, originally crafted to hold cut flowers or stand empty as decorative ornaments in affluent households.