A LARGE CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE 'HUNDRED DEER' SNUFF BOTTLE

FIVE CHARACTER SU YUN DAO REN ZHI MARK, GUANGXU 1875-1908

Decorated with deer in a landscape amongst hills and trees, with a band of bats to the shoulder and shou characters to the neck, the base with a mark and a single recumbent deer, 10.7cm.

Suyun Daoren (1839-95), was also known by the monk's name Liu Cheng Yin (which he took in 1870), and as Liu Duo Shen. He was one of the most powerful eunuchs in the court of the Empress Dowager Ci Xi, and one of her most trusted political advisors and a personal confidant.