In terms of quality and workmanship this saddle is similar to some of the best imperial Chinese saddles, such as one owned by Emperor Qianlong (r. 1736–96) and preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing. This saddle is also exceptional for having all its original parts, including the elaborate seat cover of embroidered silk and the fittings of the saddletree. Although this type of saddle is often identified as Tibetan, the saddle plates, the style of workmanship, and the saddletree are similar to imperial Chinese examples and indicate a likely Chinese provenance, perhaps from an imperial workshop. The saddle was, however, used in Tibet, as demonstrated by the Tibetan letter ka, branded on the underside of the saddletree as an inventory number. It must have belonged to a Tibetan nobleman of the highest rank, possibly received as a gift directly from the imperial court.

The saddle plates are made from relatively thick iron, deeply chiseled and pierced; the motifs are densely arranged so that the gaps in the scrollwork are narrow in comparison to those on other examples displayed here. The plates are finely crosshatched and damascened overall with a thick layer of gold foil. The coral and ivory beads in the center of the pommel and cantle represent the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the dharma (Buddhist teachings), and the sangha (community of believers).