FINELY PAINTED ENAMELLED MINIATURE MEIPING VASE DEPICTING THREE DOGS AND THE FRIENDS OF WINTER China, marked Suyun Daoren and dated 1891 H. 10,3 cm Base with underglaze blue mark reading „Guangxu xinmao Suyun daoren zhi san you tu“ (i.e. the xinmao year of the Guangxu reign , 1891) in a double circle, at the shoulder titled “Three Friends Motif”, the small vase mentions Suyun Daoren, the alias name of Liu Duosheng (d. 1894) who was one of Dowager Cixi’s favourite eunuchs and the fine work might have been commissioned by such a wealthy person. He was known for his large collection of glass and porcelain snuff bottles. Private collection Baden-Baden, assembled between 1985 and 2003 Good condition