This large vase produced at the Kolyvan Lapidary Works is notable for its unusual shape and the superb quality of the stone - the austerely noble grey-violet Korgon porphyry. The vase was probably intended from the first to adorn one of the rooms of the Imperial Museum, the New Hermitage built in the mid-19th century. It was created in the Classical style as a copy of an ancient vase kept at the villa of Cardinal Albani. In shape the vase is more reminiscent of a deep round bowl with a turned back rim decorated with egg and bead-and-reel moulding. Its base is decorated with convex lobes and large carved leaves, setting off the mirror smoothness of the body. The vase rests on a central support decorated with immaculately executed acanthus leaves. Apart from this, the vase is supported by three legs in the form of animal paws. They are so fine and exquisite that they would not take the weight of such a massive bowl. The vase stands on a shaped triangular foot with rounded corners. Each of the three curving removable handles located on the lower part of the body ends in two carved bearded mascarons.
In 1862 the vase was displayed at the World Exhibition in London. The Kolyvan Works was awarded a bronze medal for its contribution to that exhibition.
During the Second World War the vase survived the hard days of the siege of Leningrad and continues as before to adorn the Van Dyck Room.