The copper bodies have applied silver rims and silver base plates. The white ground is decorated in silver and brass yusen and shosen enamels: the red and blue thistles are outlined with wires and shaded with coloured enamels; the leaves are shaded in green enamels. Although the overall decoration is somewhat stylised, a naturalistic touch has been given by the depiction of insect damage to the leaves. The counter-enamel of the vases is of a matt brown colour, as are the inner base plates, which have the silver yusen mark of the Ando Company.