Urns with holes too small for plants

I've noticed several small marble garden urns that don't have enough room for a plant. I suppose the hole is only to make the urn lighter.
Here are two of them on ebay and there are several highly similar ones that have the same type of interior

http://www.ebay.com/itm/332268544722

http://www.ebay.com/itm/232395028399

Back in the Victorian era, how were these urns used? More precisely, where did they place them in the garden if they weren't used for planting? Or are they architectural salvage?

 

They could have been placed on top of exterior wall corners or along house steps. Ferns don't take up much room and would be very pretty in those.

 

Hi,
I agree with Bakergma.
greg

 

They may well be hangs-around-looks-cutes, i.e. purely ornamental. The later Victorians never passed up a good chance to decorate something. They may well have put those tall metal vases inside with cut flowers for parties, or something of the sort. Ferns are another possibility; a lot of them don't have much in the way of a root system.

 

Thanks for the replies, each helped.
Since we're on the subject, does someone know how to determine the age of a solid stone urn? What are the key things to look at, or is it impossible?

 

They're pillar toppers. Gate posts, that sort of thing.

As to age: look for signs of hand tools and obviously not concrete.

They sell best when really mossy and weathered.