Pair of ormolu mounted porphyry vases by Maison Millet

The vases are set on square bases with ormolu mounted socles and ormolu acanthus leaves mounted to the bottom of the vases' bodies. The bodies are of ovoid form, and are mounted with twin ormolu grotesque mask handles, which are joined by a band of scrolling flowers and foliage. The masks display male heads with foliage and grapes instead of hair. The vases are lidded and surmounted by an ormolu pomegranate-form finial.

The bases are signed 'Millet à Paris', which is the makers' mark for Maison Millet, a prestigious French firm of furniture makers, active at the end of the 19th Century.