In 1721 in Peterhof and in 1726 in Ekaterinburg under the imperial regime, stone-cutting factories were founded by decree of Tsar Peter the Great, specializing in the processing and polishing of precious stones. The preference for 'hard stones' was widespread in Russia and the country's vast natural resources also offered an enormous variety.

By the end of the 18th century, Russian and French designers were seeking out even more exotic materials for decorative objects, which were highly desired by collectors and sometimes specially commissioned from Parisian traders, the marchands merciers.

Rapakiwi granite is a symbol of the city of St. Petersburg. It was used for many of the city's landmarks, including the Alexander Column, as well as the interior of the Mikhailovsky Palace and the Kazan Cathedral.

The innovative snake decoration is based on a series of designs by Ennemond Alexandre Petitot (d. 1801), which were published in 1764 and spread throughout Europe. The famous Russian architect and designer Andrei Voronikhin (1759-1814) also used this design and created several stone vessels with devoured snake handles for the Imperial Workshops at the Tsar's court.

The imposing vases made of artfully crafted granite with the masterly engraved and gilt mounts are an example of the creativity and the skills of Russian bronziers in the 'State Bronze Workshop' at the end of the 18th century.

Their synthesis of French Louis XVI designs with the Tsarist Empire's incredibly diverse resources of exotic stones led to an unmistakably Russian aesthetic.