The piece is heavily potted and of oblong section. On the shoulders of the vase are two figures modelled in relief, seated on lotuses with lotus fronds in their hands. The knop on the top of the oblong, square-angled lid is in the form of a seated figure of Guanyin with an ambrosia flask and cup in hand, and its robes are entirely gilt. On the vase are square cartouches containing, on the longer sides scenes from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and on the shorter sides birds on flowering branches. They are all painted in heavy famille rose colours, and set in a gold-ground overall pattern of enamelled flowers and butterflies. The size of the piece, its complicated form and the amount of gilding used indicate that it must have been expensive when new.