A Chinese silk and metal thread brocaded dais carpet

inscribed 乾精宮御用 Qianjing gong yu yong; ‘For Imperial use in the Palace of Heavenly Purity’

incorporating various symbolic motifs within the design, the pearl (purity and perfection: one of the eight precious things), the Buddhist motifs of the swastika character (good luck), and Buddhist emblems of the happy augury: the endless knot (destiny, fate, inevitability and longevity), the conch shell (calling to prayer, voice of Buddha), the wheel of law (truth, majesty, order and dignity), the closed vase (heavenly exlixir, peace and harmony), the umbrella of state (dignity, good government), the canopy (protection or official rank) and the lotus flower (purity and perfection), set against saffron yellow and red ground in border, and with saffron lattice and metal-thread brocaded field, with medallions centred by motif of interlocking ruy-i (cloudband) motif (symbol of unlimited power)
approximately 261 by 186cm; 8ft. 6in., 6ft. 1in.
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), circa 1800