A dragon pillar is a decorative column, usually small-sized and made of stone, i.e. marble, granite, porcelain or terracotta, and carved or decorated with dragon bas-reliefs (fig.) and clouds or cloud scrolls. It is a characteristic feature in Chinese palace and temple architecture, and usually lines staircases or tops balustrades of bridges (fig.) or those surrounding a building, although it can also be found in a larger size, used as a decorative support pillar inside a temple building (fig.).