Past: Although there is no written record of
the history of carpet weaving in Tibet, it is likely
that it was already well established as a local
fold art in the western and central regions of
the country by 1000 C.E. The use of a vertical
loom and the "cut-loop" knotting system, which
produces a thick, durable pile, are techniques,
which migrated from Western and Central Asia
and Chinese, Turkestan. References to pile
carpets can be found in the biography of
Tibet's great saint Milarepa, who lived in the
11th - 12th Century.
The predominant function of carpets among
the Tibetans has been as a seat or a bed.
For nomads in their tents, lay people in their homes, monks and nuns in their monasteries, carpets
provided a source of warmth and comfort in the severe climate and sparse surroundings. Carpets were
also used to cover pillars in the temples, to hang in doorways, and especially as saddle blankets and
saddle covers, a source of great pride for horseman.
Most weaving was done within the home or in small workshops, which produced carpets for sale to
monasteries and the wealthier individuals in the area. Eventually the province of Tsang in southern
Tibet gained a reputation for the skill of its weavers, and carpets from Gyantse and Shigatse were
particularly admired. But it was not until after the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959, when those who
had fled the resulting atrocities in their homeland were faced with the hardship of surviving as
refugees in Nepal and India, that Tibetan carpets developed into a commercial export industry.
Present: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in an effort to preserve Tibetan culture identity and traditions
in exile, initiated brisk rehabilitation projects to keep his people together and to give them a means
of livelihood. Hence, carpets weaving centres were started in many refugee settlements and gradually
the carpet business has become a flourishing international concern. Today, Tibetan carpets are a
popular choice for home and commercial furnishings in many countries throughout the world.
Our current production combines the richness of this extensive tradition with the demands of a
contemporary market. The long-stapled, resilient wool of Himalayan sheep, historically esteemed for its
strength and lustre, is blended with soft New Zealand wool, and then carded and hand-spun to create
a well-textured, sturdy yarn ideally suited for carpets. Our dyeing process is based on techniques that
originated in Persia and have been orally transmitted through generations of Tibetan carpet-markers,
using such natural sources for colour as indigo, walnut, madder, myrobalan, and rhubarb. The soft,
earthy tones, which result from these vegetable dyes, are chemically washable, and will retain their
quality through many years of use. For those who prefer brighter colours, we also offer carpets made
with chrome dyes.
