His wife nibbles on an apple while her tea cools down a bit. In the samovar in the center of the table gives a fish-eye view of the action taking place in the room. Egg-tempera paint is the medium used to paint this composition. The composition is structured in a formal manner and there is great balance to the overall layout. The characters and the cat are the only images out of symmetry, which makes them and their surroundings compelling to the eye.
Gold paint is used strategically to add light and give the reflective quality to the samovar.
The box is constructed out of paper-mache made in the village of Mstera. Forest green lacquer is used to paint the exterior and red lacquer to paint the interior of the piece. Beautiful gold and egg-tempera decorations adorn the exterior of the piece in flowing lines and beading patterns. The box has a hinge located above the composition and rests on a flat bottom. The Mstera insignia can be found on the bottom of the piece.