Spike fiddle with two strings and an octagonal wooden body. The table and the back are of tung wood. The sides of the octagon form panels carved with flowers and insects and are lacquered red and gold. The back has an open lacquered carving of a cloven-hoofed beast. The neck and pegbox are of hardwood lacquered black. Red- and gold-lacquered carved flowers adorn the base and top of the neck, and the pegbox is surrounded with red- and gold-lacquered carved flowers and birds. The two side-mounted pegs, lacquered black, are carved to simulate bamboo and leaves. In Standard Chinese,
'er xian' means 'two strings.'

The bow (Collection number 5020.1960) is carved to simulate bamboo and leaves and lacquered dark red-brown. Red and gold lacquered leaves are carved at the handle and the head.