Sleeping Rug with Chinese Dragons

Series Title

Sleeping Rug with Ming-style Dragons

Artist

Tibetan (Tibetan)

Date

19th-early 20th century

Medium

Wool

Dimensions

: 36 in. x 6 ft. 2 in. (91.44 cm x 1.9 m)

Credit Line

Gift of David Kamansky and Gerald Wheaton

Object Number

2014.23.468

Label

Knotted pile rugs have been made and used in Tibet for centuries. These rugs provided insulated surfaces for working, relaxing, praying and sleeping in a cold, high-altitude environment. This type of rug is called a khaden and would have been stacked with other rugs on a low platform and used as a couch or bed. The dragon design on this rug derives from Chinese silk textiles of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Dragons were regarded as symbols of power across East Asia and are a common motif in many genres of art.