A disk-shaped ink cake finely decorated in moulded relief on each side with a calligraphic Chinese character surrounded with clouds and dragons. One side bears the character for Big (大)(Da) while the other is the character from Small (小)(Xiao).

The side of the ink cake has a moulded inscription stating the piece was produced during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (reigned 1735-1796), followed by an oval three-character cartouche, likely the maker's name.

The ink used for calligraphy and painting was primarily made from carbon derived from burning resinous pinewood, combined with lampblack, mixed with animal glue, and then moulded into sticks and cakes before being dried. These ink cakes were ground by hand on a wet ink stone to create the desired consistency and blended with water to give various shades. However, such luxury ink cakes were valued by scholars and collectors and were kept as desk decorations.