The bottle, of spade shape, is deeply carved to depict two scenes.
On one side, an attendant is seen bearing a tray to two figures on the terrace of a pavilion.
On the other, a boy is holding out a box to a seated figure, with a donkey tethered nearby; it has a matching stopper, 6.5cm.
The colour of cinnabar lacquer is obtained by mixing cinnabar (mercury), with the lacquer sap.