Carved in relief and painted with ‘famille-rose’ enamels with, on one side, a prancing deer flanked by sprays of mythical fungus, on the reverse a stork sits in a rocky landscape, 5.7cm.
This is one of a group of ten snuff bottles, examples of an extremely rare type, which are one of the great glories of the Burghley Collection.
The group was probably made in a private kiln, established in Beijing around 1770 to cater for the increased demand of the Palace.
The kiln carried on production until approximately 1850.