Pair Apotheosis vases in basalt

A rare pair of Apotheosis Vases in black basalt - seen more commonly in jasperware; and usually as singals. They depict the Apotheoses of Homer and Virgil. Homer is from an ancient source, Virgil was created as his pair.

They are so-called because the first relief was thought to depict Homer being assumed into Godhood; it is now thought to represent a harp-player (a Kitharist, to be exact) receiving an award. It was taken from a vase in the Hamilton Collection, now in the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1772-0320-26-

Handles Restored.