Escalier de Cristal, established in Paris in the early 19th century by Marie Jeanne Rosalie Désarnaud, was among the finest furnishing stores in the city, and was named for the crystal staircase that featured in its original showroom. It specialised in all kinds of luxury items, often collaborating with well-known designers, artists and sculptors to create innovative and beautiful works of art, including, in the late 19th century, Emile Gallé, Thédore Deck and Edmond Lachenal.

By the 1850s, partners in the business, Lahoche and Émile Pannier, began to exhibit at the new International Exhibitions, increasing the company's overseas reputation until, in 1885, Pannier gave the store to his two sons, Georges and Henry, who trained under their father. The brothers succeeded in maintaining the success of the company by quickly adapting to rapidly changing trends in the decorative arts, in particular the fashion for Japan-inspired objects and furniture. After Japan's participation in the 1867 International Exhibition and the discovery of its visual vocabulary, new Japanese-inspired trends in European artistic production quickly gained ground and the Pannier brothers diversified their production to include objects such as this pair of porcelain vases which emulate cloisonné and feature Japanese-inspired motifs.