Coade stone vase of campana (bell) form with wide (replacement) rim decorated with a continuous Bacchanalean frieze in relief around the centre and two handles with mask terminals above gadrooned lower section; tapering fluted socle on square foot and square Coade stone plinth with ram's head angles and relief panels to each side.

This vase is a copy of an ancient marble vase made in Rome in the year 1BC that was rediscovered by the Borghese family during the Renaissance, hence its name ‘Borghese Vase’ (now in the Louvre). It is very similar to another Roman marble vase rediscovered by the Medici, known as the 'Medici Vase'. They are both characterised by their inverted bell shapes and low relief carved decoration but the Borghese Vase had in its lower section two handles with mask terminals. Since their rediscovery the vases have been copied by artists in different media and depicted in paintings and prints either as background decoration or as prominent features in the composition.

This replica was made in 1817 by the Coade factory in Lambeth, London. It was purchased in 1825 by the architect John Nash for George IV for the decoration of the gardens at the Royal Lodge at Windsor. Made by the sculptor and modeller William Croggon, who had joined the factory in 1813, its design is likely to be based on copies of the original that had been made by the architect and designer Robert Adam.

The material that they are made of is called ‘coade stone’. This is a type of stoneware made after a secret recipe elaborated by Mrs Coade, who was the factory owner. The high resistance and durability of her material made it ideal for the production of large garden decorative pieces. These vases became the factory’s best selling and most popular items and they were acquired for the garden decoration of country houses all over England. The Coade manufactory made reduced copies of the Borghese Vase in some numbers from 1769–70 onwards, and it figures, alongside its famous companion the Medici vase, in the set of etchings of Coade’s designs that are variously dated 1775–9. 

This vase was therefore a ‘standard’ product, but the pedestal was a special order, costing more than the vases
themselves. The vases were supplied by William Croggon, who took over Eleanor Coade’s business after her death in 1821, retaining the successful name and ‘secret’ formula. William Croggon’s account dated 17 June 1825 included 40 guineas for the vase and a further charge, in October 1826, of £50. 8s. for modelling from panels of Figures in Alto relievo – subjects appropriate to the Borghese Vase, and making moulds of the same - @ 12 Gs a
Pannel To modelling Festoons of Laurel, double G.R. Rams Heads – Ribbons & for the cornices of the Pedestals
and making moulds of the same £6.8.0
To making two Pedestals in Imperishable Stone with alto relievo pannels and rich frize after the preceding Models &c – the same intended to support the Borghese & Medici vases @ 40 Gs ea4
When packing and carriage were added the total charge for the two vases and their pedestals was £293.6s.8d.5
The modeller of the four reliefs on the pedestal is not known.