From around 2500 BC, the Assyrians, who lived in the northern regions of Mesopotamia, were a highly warlike people. Because they inhabited cold and mountainous areas, they developed great physical endurance. The constant need to defend themselves against wild animals further strengthened their warrior skills. As a result, they became highly proficient in the use of weapons of war and were able to besiege cities with great effectiveness. The Assyrians adopted cuneiform writing from the Sumerians and left behind numerous monumental architectural works.
 
The Assyrian Set is inspired by a wall relief discovered in the palace of Sennacherib (reigned 704–681 BC), which is now exhibited at the British Museum in London. The scene depicts Assyrian warriors fighting the enemy at the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, standing on a raft shaped like a boat made of reeds.
The Vase and Gondola is handcrafted from glass. All relief patterns on its surface are decorated entirely by hand, using gold gilding and antique finishing techniques.