The design of these vases is based on a pair of vases by Pierre Gouthière now in the Musée du Louvre and illustrated in H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, 1986, vol. I, p.237, no. 4.3.5. This model was copied several times in the 19th century. A model with bronze bodies at the Grand Trianon, Versailles was executed in 1864. Others manufactured by Sèvres were made in the 1860's including one for le grand salon de l'appartement sur le jardin at St. Cloud (see H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, Vergodete Bronzen, 1986, vol. I, pp. 424-425, no. 6.3.8).

Pierre Gouthière (1732-1813/14) is considered one of the most important ciseleurs of the 18th century. He was made a maître doreur-ciseleur in 1758 and in 1767 was appointed doreur ordinaire des Menus Plaisirs. Gouthière executed works for Marie-Antoinette as well as ornaments after designs by Ledoux for Madame du Barry's Pavillion de Louveciennes. Gouthière's principle patron was the Duc d'Aumont, director of the Menus Plaisirs who commisioned a large volume of work between the years 1772-1782.