The vases in this pair, which take the shape of Classical volute kraters, are formed of lapis lazuli and ormolu (gilt bronze). Each lapis vase stands on a square ormolu plinth, which is cast in an architectural manner and is encircled by a classicising frieze of moulded acanthus leaf motifs. The foot of each vase is secured to its plinth by four grasping acanthus leaf mounts. The top of each vase’s waisted socle is encompassed by an ormolu foliate band, from which spring twin scrolling foliate handles that reattach to each vase at the lip. The playful substitution of volute handles for scrolling foliate ones (the volute handles typically being the defining characteristic of a volute krater) grants this pair of vases a particular charm.
The lip of each vase is encircled by an acanthus leaf draped ormolu band, which connects, via the twin scrolling handles, the lip of each vase to its socle. Each vase is topped by a domed lapis lid, which is surmounted by an elaborate ormolu pomegranate finial.