Dimensions: 3" H x 17-3/4" W Chinese Yuan Dynasty Period, Blue and White Hundred Cranes motif porcelain charger. Finely potted in wide shallow vessel form, with broad wide central interior, rounded cavetto gently tapering to open wide wavy water shape rim. All reserved hand painted ornamentations are rendered in clean white underglaze base color which contrast against the cobalt blue fine color. The central medallion delicately fine depicted two beautiful crane interspersed with water plants, flowers blooms, cresting wavy Lishui water amidst a salubrious water garden, enclosed with double fine cobalt blue rings lines. The graceful crane is a common emblem in paintings. The name guan is used for both storks and cranes and the same symbolism applies to both. Storks tend to live in wetlands while cranes prefer drier lands. Like pine trees and stones, the crane symbolizes longevity as well as wisdom. It is fabled that when a crane reaches 600 years old it no longer needs to eat. It stands as a homophone fore peace, harmony. An embroidery of a crane formed part of the regalia of the top rank of Imperial officials. Guan sounds the same as guan official and guan hat, first places can symbolize the wish for promotion to a high official position. A crane is often portrayed with a tortoise longevity or a deer longevity and riches. The outer central medallion rim decorated with abundant flowers blooms interspersed scrolling interlocking tendril, enclosed with double fine cobalt blue rings lines. Cresting wavy Lishui water adorned surrounded the round mouth rim with same shape. The exterior shallow foot rim decorated with flowers blooms and scrolling tendrils. The foot rim reveals the cut edges during the making process, and the base left unglazed with grayish creme-brown ground and dark spots of firing marks. This piece displays a subtle sheen as the light ricochets across the finely exterior, glazed smooth, brilliant with a moist appearance, the finishing meticulous. See More