a very special chinese small tiger rug made probably in northeast china for northwest china, as it cames some years ago out of a buddhist monastery in the qinghai province (possibly a gift to the monatery as it was usual). interesting is that the border is not showing the 8 auspicious buddhistic symbols but the 6 taoistic one. not very old as it dates from early 20th c, colors and weave point to this fact, but a true "objet de culte" and it will be antique in few years! condition is very good, at both ends still remain the tibetan cloth mounting (can or should be removed)