This black and gilded rectangular lacquer wooden box features a hinged lid, whose copper hinges are carved with characters that read PATENT/LOCK JOINT. The gilded motifs are embellished with red and brown alternately. The lid is painted with a Chinese port, a boat and two western sloops. The four sides of the lacquer box are decorated with scenes of tea production.

In the lacquer box are two pewter tea canisters carved with two figures from Chinese mythology.