Egg-tempera paint is the medium used by the artist to paint this piece. The palette the artist uses is very diverse to accommodate the various structures found in the composition. The structures are painted very rigidly and the artist is able to adhere to the architectural designs. There is good compositional integrity in the scene, which is well balanced formally laid out. The clouds in the background and the water swirling at the base of the city create internal action and movement.
Black lacquer is used to paint the outside of the box and red lacquer to paint the inside.
Gold scrollwork supplemented with aluminum paint, frames the scene and another design wraps around the sides of the box. The box does not have a hinge and rests on a flat bottom. Upon completing the work on this piece the artist writes the title, Kholuy, and signs his initials at the bottom of the composition.