A match for the containers? 16th-17th century ivory vases

[JustAnotherTheory]

An issue with them is they are basically all upside down triangles with a base, a lot of the VMS drawings don't get bigger as they go up, then there's the tripod feet

Indeed, I thought the same. I'm now thinking that the vessels in the VMS might not be "drinking" vessels, but other, recreational vessels, of some sort. But also following the same ivory design tradition.

Just take a look at these 19th century ivory chess sets:

   

These do not shape upwards in a "triangle" fashion, and seem much closer to the VMS designs (the kings and queens in the middle, in the picture above). Not perfect, but close.

Somewhere, out there, there must be a perfect match for one of the VMS containers. Either that, or I'm on course for a monumental waste of time