Adam volumes 25/81-25/83 are all on one sheet.

This drawing, along with others of metalwork designed by James Stuart, was made by the Adam office in order to assist Adam in designing the plate arrangement for the sideboard tables in the niche of the dining room.

The purpose of a chestnut vase was to serve roasted chestnuts. This example was executed in copper and ormolu by Diederich Nicolaus Anderson. Minor discrepancies between the drawing and the executed object, Snodin suggests, are the result of artistic licence on the part of the draughtsman.