Rug with a design of a dragon amid treasures

The most distinct motif in this rug is the dragon, whose body shows three detached parts, a traditional approach used in paintings to present this heavenly creature soaring in the sky, partially concealed by clouds. Here, the dragon is surrounded by various treasures: fish, flower, conch, vase, and the wish-granting wand ruyi. The striking blue design on the lowest row represents the Daoist paradise, the Eastern Ocean with a rocky isle in the center.

Thick rugs like this one are used on the floor or under beds as insulation in the colder regions of northwest and western China. Such rugs were often made of wool sheared from local sheep and woven with simple designs. The inspiration for the designs was derived from two types of textiles popular in the Qing period: carpets made in the mainland that usually featured stylized patterns, and uniforms with auspicious emblems made for members of the imperial family.