The bottle, of the Kangxi period (1662-1722), is embellished with European silver-gilt corded mounts, 5.5cm high.
It came to Burghley as part of a massive bequest from Elizabeth, Countess of Devonshire (1619-1689), to her daughter Anne, Countess of Exeter (1649-1703).
The bequest is recorded in an inventory known as the 1690 Devonshire Schedule, or Deed of Gift, which lists, under ‘lesser china’: ‘a pair of very small blue and white bottles garnisht Top, bottems and middle with wyor.’
The other bottle is now missing.
