Traditional Tibetan Rugs
Tibet was closed to foreigners for many years. Much of the cultural tradition of Tibetan rug-making was lost after the Chinese annexation in 1959. Today, older rugs are emerging in Western markets and Tibetan exiles in Nepal attempt to continue the old traditions.
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Materials
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Traditional Tibetan rugs are made from sheep's or yak's wool. The background threads --warp -- may be wool or cotton. Rugs are often coarsely woven with a shaggy pile.
Colors
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Tibetan rugs feature strong, contrasting colors --- especially red, blue, purple and yellow. Indigo provided blue dyes; madder plants yielded shades of brown and red. Many other plants were gathered for dye-making, but results were unreliable. Chemical dyes were used from the 1880s for their stronger colors and ease of use.
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Features
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Central floral medallions within patterned borders are prevalent and suggest Chinese influences. Snow lions, human skulls and other pictorial symbols are common, as are tiger stripes. Sometimes tiger motifs are more elaborate, recreating flayed tiger skins. Traditionally, Tibetan tiger rugs decorated monasteries -- often wrapped around entrance pillars.
Expert Insight
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According to rug dealer Thomas Cole, loop-knotting -- weaving rugs from continuous loops -- became unique to Tibet and distinguishes Tibetan rugs from the Chinese ones they sometimes resemble. Cole draws similarities of construction and motif between Tibetan rugs and the sleeping blankets of Uzbekistan.
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References
- "Oriental Rug Review"; Woven Jewels Tibetan Rugs from Southern Californian Collections; Valerie Justin; October/November 1992
- "Oriental Rug Review"; Tibetan Rugs at Adraskand; Murray Eiland Jr; August/September 1991
- "Oriental Rug Review"; Tibetan Rugs at Fort Mason; Nicholas Wright; February/March 1991
- Antique Tibet: Tibetan Rugs
Resources
- Photo Credit Jokang Tempel in Lhasa -Tibet image by Martin Krengel from Fotolia.com
