The present ice pail very likely came from a service purchased by the Duke of Gloucester on 27 February 1819 described "A S A R [Sa Majesté Royale, His royal Highness] Mr Le Duc de Glocester [sic], Service fond nankin, frise en brun paysages Vues de France with 72 plates, 8 compotiers ronds coupe a pied, 4 compotiers à bourelet, 4 compotiers étrusques, 2 sucriers, 2 jattes à pieds, 2 glacières, 4 corbeilles forme Jasmin, 4 corbeille forme jatte and 4 corbeilles basses" for a total of 6,037 francs, the ice-pails costing 300 francs each. It was delivered to the Duke of Gloucester on February 27 1819. (Vz3, 145-146 and Pb4, 1817, No. 3).

The model for the ice pail was conceived in 1806 by a member of the Brachard family, a nod to the factory's 18th century vase 'a tête d'elephant' which was itself inspired by a Chinese original. See A. Dawson, French Porcelain, A Catalogue of the British Museum Collection, London, 1994, pp. 217-220, no. 180 for a discussion of the pair of similar form from the service presented in 1812 by Napoleon I to Emperor Francis II of Austria. The form was also owned by Napoleon himself -- it was included in the 'Marly Rouge' service delivered to him in 1809.