Woolen Backrest Carpet with Coiled Dragon Design on Yellow Ground

Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

Dimensions: overall height: 180 cm, width: 87 cm

Qing court collection

Backrest carpets were designed as accessories for thrones. With cotton threads comprising the warp and weft, the woolen material (zairong, lit. “inserted wool”) is created by affixing dyed wool to warp threads in figure-eight knots and adding a dyed weft thread after every two weft threads. The center of the carpet features a woven dragon design with interspersed designs of clouds, ocean waves, and river cliffs. The border is embellished with ocean waves as well as interlocking-rhombus, coral, gold ingot, and other miscellaneous-treasure designs. Meanwhile, the color scheme includes yellow, orange, dark and light blue, clair-de-lune, white, brownish yellow, crimson, pink, and purple with two-to-three shade color-gradation to increase the visual effects of the artistic designs. Judging from the rug-weaving craftsmanship, scholars believe this backrest carpet was, almost certainly, woven in Ningxia.