Poplar wood with pastiglia decoration, the ground of a red, glass-like material, the pastiglia with traces of blue and green pigment. Decorated with scratched work and punched work on front and lid. The front face divided into two panels with recessed carving of 2 leopards (?) in a circle of scrolling vegetation in a Romanesque style. Hinged lid with flanged sides: lock to front.

Box of dovetailed construction with mitred corners, the bottom formed by a chamfered board, probably set into a rebate, the lid a single board held on two ring hinges (original), with a batten at each end nailed up to the underside, the battens probably not original (in that the incised line ornament found on the top and ends of the lid, and back and sides of the box is lacking on the battens. On the lid, at the proper right rear corner a square cut-out with a countersunk nail, probably for the lid batten. The front with two panels carved in low intaglio each with a leopard (the spots concentric punched circles) within scrolling leafy stems, the panels divided by an armorial shield with leafy stems above, set below the key hole to a lock; along the lower edge of the front panel alternate red and green painted trefoil (cusped) arches, interspersed with punched concentric circles. Diamond punchwork along the front edge and top of lid, and dark pigment on the front panel and along the front of the lid.

A tiny sample from the interior of the box was identified by Jo Darrah of the V&A Conservation dept. (16/5/1986), as poplar (Populus sp.). The red ground material on the front was examined under microscope and appeared to be glass. Blue pigment appears to be azurite with a copper salt. Green appears to be a copper resinate.