TYPE: A ningxia ‘pillar’ carpet

CIRCA: 1950 or before

A so-called ‘pillar’ carpet made in the Ningxia region of China specifically to go around columns or ‘pillars’ in a Buddhist monastery. The five clawed (Imperial) dragon is portrayed in disjointed ‘segments’ so as when the carpet is wrapped around a column / pillar, it appears that the dragon is writhing around the column / pillar. Here the golden scaled dragon is depicted in the clouds chasing the precious jewel, with the dragons head very well drawn with a flowing lion-like mane and long whiskers. Clouds, mountains and waves anchor the bottom, while a pearl border, and above it an angular t-shaped meander, anchor the top. A mix of aniline and natural dyes, and un-dyed wool and in excellent condition. A beautiful ‘mid’ 1900’s (probably mid to late 2nd quarter) piece.

SIZE: 2.20m x 0.98m

WARP: cotton

WEFT: cotton

KNOT COUNT: 30 kpsi

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