Pair of Chinoiserie style ormolu mounted porcelain vases

This superb pair of ormolu, or gilt bronze, mounted porcelain vases is wrought in the Chinoiserie style. Each vase features a bulbous ovoid-shaped body surmounted by a flared tulip-shaped neck, the cream-ground porcelain profusely parcel gilt with scrolling foliate motifs in a manner imitative of cloisonné enamel. The front of the body of each vase is painted with a Rococo style portrait of a young lady, contained within a painted cartouche, while the neck of each is painted with a landscape scene. The reverse of each body and neck is painted with images of flowers and butterflies, executed in pastel shades.

Each vase is raised on an ornate ormolu and marble base, the ormolu wrought into scrolling, Chinoiserie forms. Twin ormolu scrolled Chinese-dragon handles spring from the shoulder of each vase, and the lip of each is mounted with a Chinoiserie relief-cast rim.