The history of Tibetan Rug making dates back to some fifteen hundred years but a standard piece from that date is virtually nonexistent these days. Rugs in Tibet historically were practical, everyday objects, woven locally for use in homes and monasteries as saddle covers, sleeping mates, window coverings and other utilitarian purposes where they would over time wear out and be discarded.
What makes Tibetan weaving so interesting is that they developed a style of knotting completely independent of any of the surrounding rug-weaving neighbours, and completely unique. Rug weaving had been well established in such countries as Persia and China by this time, but it does not appear their techniques influenced the rug weaving in Tibet. However, rugs created during this time and all the way up to the 19th Century were kept largely in the Tibetan region.
Early Tibetan rugs were often woven in one of three designs: simple or basic designs, Chinese influenced designs or tiger designs. Because of the utilitarian purpose of rugs and the limited access to dyes most early Tibetan rugs were extremely simple in design and colour. Any advanced designs in rugs often took on Chinese influence and used such images as dragons and lotus flowers. One design unique to Tibet, however, is the Tibetan Tiger rug. These rugs were woven for the Lamas to be used as prayer mats. In Buddhism, the Tiger is a revered animal and thought to provide protection to one while meditating. Lama’s would often wrap themselves in tiger pelts or sit on a Tiger Prayer rug.
