Pair of monumental krater-form lapis lazuli vases

This magnificent pair of Neoclassical style vases is crafted from lapis lazuli and ormolu, or gilt bronze. Each vase takes the form of a calyx krater, a type of vase established in Ancient Greece for the mixing of water and wine, though the present pair expands this prototype into a truly monumental scale.

The wide, curving body of each vase, wrought from lapis lazuli, culminates in a flared lip mounted with an embossed ormolu rim. The gadrooned belly of each vase sits above a two-tier lapis and ormolu socle, which in turn is supported by a square podium raised above a square base by four ornate ormolu paw feet. Each vase is mounted with twin ormolu handles and multiple ranks of ormolu bands.