Although nearly impossible to decipher, the words beneath the two rampant-lions mark on the bottom of the vases read Victoria Ware / Ironstone (see the second photo). The vases are typical of ironstone ware (so called for its durability, not because there is any iron in it), which originated in the UK in the early 19th century as a cheaper alternative to porcelain. This example is known as "Flow Blue," a name derived from the blue glaze that flowed during firing. The shape of the vases and their decoration are a blend of Ming cobalt blue-and-white porcelain and European Chinoiserie (see the Chinoiserie mirror in the Dining Room).