An excellent Laque Burgauté antique in fantastic condition, C1850. In tapered, flattened form with sloping shoulders, with Ch'ien Hsing mark on the bottom. The entire bottle intricately worked with iridescent sea ear or mother of pearl, and gold leaf, on a lacquer base. Original matching stopper with silver spoon. There is some debate as to whether these bottles are Japanese or Chinese, but most scholars on the subject say that they were made in both countries, the later bottles made in Japan. This style, in the proper size for an antique snuff bottle, comes from the earlier part of the 19th century, and as we have seen others with Chinese signatures, we believe this one is Chinese. This snuff bottle, in excellent antique condition with no damage, measures 2 inches (5.1 cm) to the top of the stopper.