The pattern of these plinth-supported and dome-lidded vases, with their acanthus-bud finials and open-fretted ribbon guilloche bands, relates to that of sphinx-supported vases which George III acquired from Messrs. Boulton and Fothergill of Birmingham in 1771 as part of the garnitures de cheminée of Queen Charlotte's Windsor Castle apartments (see: N. Goodison, Ormolu: The Work of Matthew Boulton, London, 1974, p.224, and fig. 94.). But whereas satyr-masks were bound by the flowered-ribbon guilloche on the latter, here it ties Roman acanthus-leaves. Also the bases are wreathed by laurel, as features on a number of vases in Boulton's pattern for this form of bluejohn krater-vase, also illustrated, ibid., fig. 161, no. S).
The manufacture of such highly decorative 'essence-pots' or pot pourri vases began in the later 1760's with Boulton's purchase of substantial quantities of Derbyshire bluejohn. For instance in February 1771 he ordered polished stones form Robert Bradbury of Castleton for '6 sphinx' vases, and these featured in Messrs. Christie & Ansell's 11th April 1771 sale as being, 'In the antique taste radix amathysti and ormolu, lined with silver and perforated for essence...' This pair of pot-pourri vases was part of a group of objects by Boulton sold by Avery's Ltd., an engineering company long established on the site originally occupied by Boulton's Manufactory at Soho, Birmingham. This association was marked by the formation of a collection of pieces by Boulton including a group of silver sold in these Rooms, 10 June 1981, lots 130-147