The design of this vase is a ravishing combination of deep blue porcelain and gilt-bronze mounts. Designed by one of the most successful dealers in Paris and executed by the royal porcelain manufactory, it was intended not just for display but also as a pot-pourri container, with its removable lid and pierced frieze below. It is a fine example of the highly refined luxury items that furnished interiors in the 1780s when rich and vibrant colours were much appreciated and when every item in a room was carefully chosen to complement the others.