The gondola-shaped vase, decorated with an apple-green ground, broadly resembles a boat-shaped vase. Despite the visual appeal of the cuvette à masques, comparatively few were made; production seems to have been limited to the years 1755-62.

One of the distinctive features of the decoration is the elaborately tooled, imaginative gilding encircling the two reserves. The vignette-like representation of a stag being pursued through a forest glade by hounds and mounted huntsmen is framed by elaborate gold floral trails and trellis panels supporting birds. The painter Mutel (active 1754-9, 1765, 1771-4), who was responsible for the hunting scene, was a former decorator of fans and later specialised in landscape painting at Sèvres. The strong cool colours, in tones of olive green, brown and wispy blue-grey, are typical of his hand.

Text adapted from French Porcelain for English Palaces, Sèvres from the Royal Collection, London, 2009