The two pastoral scenes on the front of the vases, confidently attributed to the Sèvres painter Charles-Nicolas Dodin (active 1754-1803), are copied from engravings after François Boucher (1703-70), La Pipée by Gilles Demarteau (1722-76) and L’agréable Leçon by René Gaillard (1719-90). On the reverse sides, complementary elements of bucolic pastimes are incorporated into the trophies. The finely tooled gilded sections, which were intended to enhance the richness of decoration and the sparkling effect of reflected candlelight, are skilfully crafted on the six upright myrtle sprays of the lower section and the broken zigzag line on the gold band around the back reserve. Text adapted from French Porcelain for English Palaces, Sèvres from the Royal Collection, London, 2009