A beautiful pair of Chinese export porcelain 8 1/2″ dishes of molded form decorated in underglaze blue with central scenes of Mandarin dusks swimming amongst lotus with two cranes flying overhead, all within a multi-lobed rim with panels of floral decoration. The lotus is a symbol of purity, the ducks a symbol of marital harmony as they are believed to mate for life, and the cranes are revered second only to the phoenix amongst winged creatures as they are symbols of strength and endurance as they fly such long distances. Crane feathers are worn is amulets against ill heath. The molded lobed rim is most likely after European silver and delft forms of the period. Minor rim roughness filled, otherwise very good condition. Circa 1690.