The pair of vases were crafted in France in the late 19th Century, and have been more recently veneered in malachite. The two are tazza vases, meaning they have tall stems, which support wide, shallow bowls.
The vases sit on stepped, square malachite bases, which each rest on four square ormolu feet. Each base is articulated by a band of ormolu, decorated with dentil moulding. The bases step upwards to form a small, square platform for the stems of the vases. The lower part of these ormolu stems are square-shaped and stepped, while the upper sections are scrolling and foliate. Supported on the stems are shaped, shallow malachite bowls with broad mouths. Each vase bowl is fitted with a pair of unusual L-shaped ormolu handles, with geometric borders, topped by pinecone finials and decorated with acanthus leaf forms foliage swags. The wide malachite mouths are topped by malachite lids, which are crowned by ormolu acorn finials, set on leafy bases.