The entire object was cast using the lost-wax casting method. The long, irregularly shaped, branch-like base fits snugly against the writing surface, and the surface has been aged and polished to a warm, bronze hue. Two distinct tortoises adorn the top, their hexagonal scales meticulously hand-carved, and their limbs, heads, and tails rendered with delicate, three-dimensional detail. The stacked composition creates a natural and vivid narrative. A square seal in seal script is engraved at the bottom, serving as the craftsman's signature and adding to the object's provenance.