Pair of Chinese mother of pearl inlaid papier-mâché vases

This pair of Chinese vases is formed from mother of pearl inlaid papier-mâché. Each vase is of baluster form, with a narrow neck rising to a flared lip. The brown ground of the vases is profusely inlaid with mother of pearl, which has been wrought to produce, on each vase, an image of a bird taking flight in an environment of foliate forms and hints of clouds blown by wind. Each vase is supported by a five-leg stand, the legs ornately formed and connected at the bottom by a circular stretcher. The top tier of each stand is inlaid with mother of pearl motifs in a manner that complements the decorative scheme of the vase it supports.