The palette is very bold and expressive. Prince Yelisey and his horse are painted with warmer paints to create a contrast so they stand out in the company of the foreground and background. The composition is very fluid and the eye has a tremendous amount of information to digest within the scene. Most of the activity is created in the swirling paints found in the background that seem to flow out of the prince. The box is constructed out of paper-mache made in the village of Kholuy.
Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior and red lacquer to paint the interior of the box.
The box has been refinished over the years by a Kholuy lacquer expert, which is reason for the box's youthful shine. The gold beading framing the scene, which is the only separate decoration on the exterior of the box. The box has no hinge and rests on a flat bottom. Upon completing the work on this piece the artist writes the title, Kholuy, and signs his name at the bottom of the scene.