Pair of ormolu mounted lapis lazuli ewer-form vases

This pair of ewer-form vases is crafted from ormolu (gilt bronze) and lapis lazuli—the lapis lazuli being a later beneficial veneer. The elongated ovoid lapis body of each vase is extensively mounted with ormolu elements. Each vase is surmounted by an elaborate swan finial, the swan’s wings meeting to serve as a spout and its curved neck functioning as the handle. The bottom of the belly of each vase is mounted with clasping ormolu foliage, which extends in a narrow foliate strip along the side of each vase to meet with the ormolu swan finials.

Each vase is raised on an ormolu base, the socle of the base pinched and cast with foliate motifs. The body of the base is highly ornate, cast with a variety of curvilinear forms, and each base is raised by four scrolled feet.