The box is round with straight walls and a well-fitting lid. The box is covered in a yellow glaze with a lustrous shine. In the Tang dynasty, ceramic boxes tended to be round and plain. By the late Tang and Five Dynasties periods, boxes were carved with patterns, and the foot of the box became taller and flared. Ceramic boxes held everyday items in the Tang dynasty, and were often used to hold makeup. There were boxes for powder, cinnabar, oil, and black ink. There were also special boxes for medicine, mirrors, and incense.