The copper bodies have applied silver rims and base plates, and the inner neck-rings are of silver-gilt. There are small circular geometric patterns in red enamel around the rims and base. The decoration is of two tethered hawks on curtained rails in gold yusen enamels. There is some shaded enamelling on the wing feather tips and to the curtain, which is decorated with a scrolling flower design, and there is a wood-grain effect to the perches. The theme of hawks and other birds of prey was frequently associated with the samurai class and was popular in Japanese art. For example, there is a famous set of twelve bronze hawks on perches exhibited at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago by the great metalworker Suzuki Chokichi. The bottoms of the vases are stamped with the two character seal Ota [Jinnoei] within a tripod incense burner (koro) cartouche.