The exterior of each vase cast, carved and inlaid in gold, silver, shakudo, copper and gilt depicting an official fighting against a ferocious dragon in a landscape on one side, a rooster underneath blossoming peonies on the other, all below flower-filled baskets, the slightly recessed neck mounted with a pair of handles cast in the shape of ho-oh birds' heads, the underside incised with maker's mark which may be translated Made by the Great Japan Empire Takaoka Bronze Company, Craftsman Masuyama Chōzaburō.