Tibetan rugs – The country of Tibet is a fascinating and unique place in the world. It is a culture within a culture that has developed a very distinct identity over the centuries. Certainly owing in part to the ever-present and tremendous influence of the rest of China, the people of Tibet have created one of the most immediately recognizable cultural traditions in the world. Music, visual art, dance, and religious practices that are unique to Tibet all possess an underlying devotion to the Tibetan identity, a strong and proud identity. Tibetan rugs are no exception to this rule: indeed, Tibetan rugs are considered notable for their distinctive style and their strict adherence to local traditions.
In Tibet, antique rugs have traditionally been made from Tibetan highland sheep wool, which is an abundant and important resource to the Tibetan people. It is also interesting to note that Tibetan rugs are generally woven with a different knotting method than those that are commonly utilized in other regions. Just as the local livestock provides Tibetans with the fibers that they need to weave superior rugs, so too does the natural environment of Tibet provide weavers with the raw materials necessary for dyeing.
Consisting of dyes found in the elevated plateau of Tibet, the colors most commonly found in Tibetan rugs are primarily blue, brown, grey, red and yellow. Motifs consist of geometric patterns and gau design, important cultural symbols for the people of Tibet. Of all the distinctive designs of Tibetan rugs, the most common design is the kanden, which measures 3×5 and is used for sleeping and sitting. Meditation rugs are a popular among Tibetan monks with individual small squares woven together, forming one rug.
Situated along the edge of the rugged snow-topped Himalayas is one of the world’s most isolated and unique weaving cultures. Tibetan rugs are exceptional representations of an artistic culture that relies heavily on religious symbolism and local motifs influenced by Chinese designs.
The iconic tiger rugs of Tibet and the shaggy Wangden prayer mat are just two of Tibet’s outstanding contributions to the world of Oriental rugs. Here on the rooftop of the world, disenfranchised weavers developed a graceful, fluid style and a strong language of decorative symbols. Stylized dragons, fierce tigers and mythical snow lions are featured prominently alongside celestial clouds, lotus blossoms and Buddhist motifs. Tibetan rugs are prized for their high artistic value, extraordinary craftsmanship and stunning use of symbolic iconography.
The carpet weaving industry in Tibet has been active for many years now. It is a craft that was not mentioned in many writings. The only time it was featured was when the reference was being made about prominent religious figures.
In the years 1903 and 1904, there was a British invasion of Tibet. The foreigners who were present in this invasion came up with detailed accounts related to Tibetan rug weaving. Laurence Waddell and Perceval Landon came up with a description of a weaving workshop that they came across near Gyantse, on their way to Lhasa.
According to Landon, the courtyard was full of rug weaving looms that accommodated both male and female weavers who were busy making rugs of different designs. He believed that what he saw was beautiful. The most common norm in pre-modern Tibet was that a workshop had to be owned and run by a local aristocratic family.
Most of the Tibetan weavings that were used for domestic purposes were home-made. This is in contrast to the decorated pile rugs which were woven in workshops and then later sold to the wealthy families in Lhasa and Shigatse.
Thousands of monks used to live in religious institutions and sat on low, long platforms that were made using hand woven carpets during their religious events. The wealthy monasteries used to change their carpets on a regular basis with a bid of promoting the weaving business. Additionally, they took gifts from thousands of weavers instead of paying tax.
In the 19th century and part of the 20th century, the Tibetan carpet industry was at its peak. However, when it got to the second part of the 20th century, it started declining.
In the year 1959, the social upheaval began. Due to this, people living in the rural areas could survive in other jobs and did not need to rely on rug weaving. Therefore, the powers of the landholding monasteries declined drastically. The aristocratic families that were in charge of all the weaving activities relocated to India with all their money and belongings.
In the 1970’s, the business of Tibetan rugs began to rise again. It did not do so in Tibet, but in India and Nepal. During this time, accounts of Tibetan rugs and their designs were written about by westerners. The information was obtained from the communities that were in exile.
The western travelers in Kathmandu made plans to set up workshops that wove Tibetan rugs. Their main agenda was to export the Tibetan rugs to the west. Eventually, the local non Tibetan rug weavers dominated the carpet workshops in Nepal and India.
The Nepalese weavers quickly reacted by widening the Tibetan carpet production. They began shifting their productions from the smaller traditional rugs to larger area carpets. They did this so that they could supply the western markets which demanded larger size rugs for their homes.
This led to the emergence of an industry specializing on carpets that is crucial to the economy of Nepal. However, in the 1990’s, scandals regarding child labor started emerging and ruined the image of the business.
In the 1980’s and 1990’s, some workshops in Lhasa and parts of Tibet were re-established. The problem is that these workshops did not have any connection to the external markets. Nowadays, most carpets woven in the Lhasa factories are purchased by tourists who visit or carried as gifts by visiting Chinese government officials.
On the other hand, the cost of making Tibetan rugs in Tibet is not that high. The reason for this is that the labor costs are considerably low. They also used wool from other countries and carpet dyes that are affordable. In the last decade, luxury rug makers in Tibet have been able to achieve a lot of success. However, there is still quite a considerable gap between products that were physically made in Tibet vs the more inferior “Tibetan style” rugs that were woven in South Asia.
a month ago
Twenty or so years ago my father gave me a beautiful antique Persian rug - after so many years (and kids and pets) it needed some TLC, so I brought it to Nazmiyal. I just picked it up today and - wow! They got the stains out entirely and the entire rug is brighter; they also made some repairs - it's back in my living room and looks fantastic, and the bill was lower than I'd expected. Overall it was a great experience - the people are wonderful, the work was perfect, and I saw so many beautiful rugs at their store that I found myself wishing for a larger apartment. Next time I need any work done on a rug, or find an open bit of floor I know where I'll be heading.
4 years ago
It is always a delight going to the Nazmiyal showroom. This Qashqai is one of several purchases made over the years, and mom is truly enjoying it. Jason and the staff are very knowledgeable and friendly. They listen to the customeru2019s needs. When I go to the showroom, it is like visiting my family because we have the same appreciation for the textile arts.nnOriental carpets are a rare discipline to be educated in, because you canu2019t go to a university to have certain types of training and experience, such as knowing the cultures and processes of carpet weaving. Jason has such a refined eye that he can distinguish a good rug from a great rug, and that knowledge is offered to the customer to elevate their point of view.nnComing here has been an initiation into a world of culture, art, and beauty which has sustained me, and for that I am grateful.
4 years ago
Loved my runner rug purchase from Nazmiyal. Love the ability to purchase, try and return if it didn't work out! I had it shipped to California and everything worked out beautifully!
a year ago
NAZMIYAL is the best source for antique and vintage rugs and carpets. Staff is extremely knowledgeable, Jason himself is an amazing dealer who handpicks each and every piece in his stunning collection and is happy to educate the consumer, not just make a sale. I always trust his experience and great eye for all my spaces!
4 years ago
I had an absolutely wonderful experience working with Nazmiyal. I was very impressed by their selection, the quality of their beautiful carpets, and their extremely reasonable prices. Really I cannot say enough about how helpful everyone at the gallery was - especially Omri, work with him if you can! - and how happy I am with my new antique rug. Five stars, highly, highly recommended!