A Sino-Tibetan woollen 'dragon' pillar carpet, 19th C.

Dim.: 378 x 120 cm

Many Chinese Buddhist objects from the Qing Dynasty have links with Mongolia, as does this pillar carpet. This rug was made specially for round temple pillars, and the curling dragon design is an appropriate one for such use, as the dragon designs join up when wrapped up around a pillar, and the rug designs look peculiar when laid out flat.