Designed in the George III neo-classical style, the vases' ovoid bodies of Derbyshire blue-john are embellished with ormolu mounts in the French manner. Their waisted and laurel-wreathed stems are supported on double-stepped 'krepidoma' plinths. The reversible acanthus-wrapped domed lids with thyrsus finials, conceal krater-vase candle-nozzles. Manufactured by Messrs. Matthew Boulton and John Fothergill of Birmingham, they are a simplification of a basic pattern that features in the firm's Pattern Book I, pl. 170 and which is illustrated in N. Goodison, Ormolu, The Work of Matthew Boulton, London, 1974, pl. 163, fig. m. A cassolette vase of related pattern is illustrated ibid., pl. 141. A related pair of vases was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 19 November 1981, lot 8.