Pair of Paris porcelain Empire period vases

The vases in this matching pair are of elongated column krater form. The ovoid body of each vase sits on a waisted socle, which in turn stands upon a square marble-effect plinth. The neck of each vase opens into a wide, lipped rim. Each vase is mounted with scrolling ormolu (gilt bronze) twin handles that spring from acanthus leaf mounts on the lower body and rejoin the body at the shoulder.

As is the manner with Paris porcelain, the vases are profusely gilt. While the plinths simulate marble, the socles, lower bodies, necks, and handles of each vase are uniformly gilt. The body of each vase, however, is beautifully decorated: on the front of each vase, upon a claret ground, are colourful floral and classical motifs, such as lyres and garlands. On the reverse of each vase is a chased gilt bouquet upon green ground set within a rectangular chased gilt frame. These designs, front and back, are bounded top and bottom between chased gilt garlands.