Rondel with cranes carrying a fungus, one of a pair

清朝 銀線彩繡 鶴獻靈芝補子

The pair of rondels may have been removed from a court robe. They are embroidered with a crane, which ranks first among the badges for the civil officials. The immortal crane is a symbol of longevity due to its white feathers (sign of old age) and because it can live for a long time. The crane carries a fungus of immortality (lingzhi) in its beak, which is a wish-granting as well as longevity symbol. Notice the embroidery method. The silk threads wrapped with silver are laid down next to each other and then tacked down with tiny stitches, a method known as couching.