Unusually, the barrel of this achromatic telescope is covered in dark red lacquer painted with flowers. It has silvered brass fittings and a single silvered brass draw tube. The eyepiece has a pivoted lens cover and there is a sliding sunshade for the objective lens.

An inscription on the draw tube indicates that the telescope was made by Hammersley of London for E. Walton, a retailer in Gosport. Another inscription names a B.S. Wrey, presumably an owner, and gives the date of October 1886.

The unusual floral decoration may be explained by the fact that Captain Bourchier Wrey RN owned the telescope and had the barrel decorated while stationed in China.