These blue-green celadon vases have the Chinese character shou ("long life") in low relief on their body. Originally even taller, the vases have been cut down and were mounted in Paris with scrolled and pierced handles, lip, and base. The mounts have been compared to work by Jean-Claude Duplessis, le père (ca. 1695–1774), a talented goldsmith, gilt-bronze worker, and porcelain designer. Duplessis's name occurs regularly in the Livre-Journal (account book) of the dealer Lazare Duvaux for the ten-year period of 1748–58. In September 1750, for instance, he sold the marquis de Voyer d'Argenson a pair of large celadon porcelain vases mounted by Duplessis in gilt bronze for 3,000 livres. This exceptionally high price indicates that the vases must have been of great importance, just like the Museum's pair.

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