A guide on hand-knotted carpets and their types

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Hand-knotted carpets were specially made in Tibet to celebrate the birth of a girl by her mother. According to Researchers, Tibetan refugees started crossing the Himalayan home in April 1959, within the wake of the Dalai Lama’s flight into exile and landed mostly in Nepal and India. Tibet carpets historically were practical, everyday objects, woven locally to be used in homes and monasteries where they might over time wear out and be discarded. There are also no such royal collections or elaborate burial customs by which the rugs would have been preserved over an extended period. Furthermore, there was no tradition for exporting the rugs to the surface world. The antique Tibetan carpets that we see within the market lately usually go back to the late 1700s to the mid-1900s.

In the context of today, Tibetan Carpets are mostly made in Nepal. Today the Tibetan and Nepal rugs are showing off more modern designs and are usually made according to designs commissioned by Westerners or Europeans. This is also because of the outstanding value of carpets considering all the work that goes into creating the masterpiece. And because of the fine fibers like natural silk and Nepalese wool that’s utilized in their creation. They’re highly durable and admired for his or her remarkable beauty and fine knotting as they are handmade.

Tibetan carpets are very popular because of the unique knotting system used to make them. Also, because they’re handmade. The unique knotting system of Tibetan carpet is highly used. The process of making those knots are still secrets. Only a handful of people today know how to make this unique. The quality of carpets totally depends upon the type of knot it consists of. Knots in a Tibetan Carpets are made in a loom. The size of the loom differs from the size of the carpet. If a carpet is large in size, the loom in which the carpet is weaved is large too. Likewise, if the carpet is small in size, the loom is smaller too.

Types of Tibetan Carpets

There are many types of Tibetan carpets including the number of knots used in a carpet, the design in which the carpet is made, and so on. Let’s discuss the different types:

On the basis of knots

The quality of carpets depends upon the number of knots present per square inch. If the carpets consist of a lower number of knots it is basically thicker than the carpet consisting of a higher number of knots. There are 40, 60,80,100, and 120 knots used in a Tibetan Hand-Woven Carpets.

40 knots Tibetan Carpet

The carpet consisting of 40 knots is in the verse of extinctions today it is not mainly produced. This contains 40 knots per square inch which makes it very thick in comparison to other carpets. The designs are especially forbidden in a 40 knot per square carpets as it separates the designs and it’d look messy.

60 knots Tibetan Carpet

The carpet that consists of 60 knots per square inch and is thin compared to 40-knot carpets. These carpets consist of beautiful designs which give it a beautiful touch. There are 60 knots per square inch so that the designs are visible.

80 knots Tibetan Carpet

This carpet is one of the finest quality carpets. It consists of 80 knots per square inch which makes it very beautiful. 80 knots carpet is much preferred because of the low cost in comparison to 100-knot carpets. These carpets consist of beautiful designs. The designs are projected beautifully in these carpets. It is highly preferred.

100 knots Tibetan Carpet

The 100 knots per square inch carpets are considered to be the best carpet among all of the carpets. It is very thin and is made up of silk. The designs are beautifully projected. This carpet is also very shiny and is so much better. As this carpet is thin, it can also be taken from one place to another easily and can be washed easily as well.

120 knots Tibetan Carpet

The carpets containing 120 knots per square inch is the finest quality of the carpet. This carpet is usually made up of silk and it shines so beautifully. The designs are beautifully seen and the symbols are perfectly made. This carpet is famous among Westeros.

On the basis of motifs and designs

Snow lion Tibetan Carpet

The snow lion has its own mythological importance. It represents a cheerful mind. The snow lion is referred to as a symbol of luck. The carpets made with snow lion design are very beautiful and it is believed to bring luck and fortune in the life of people.

Tiger Tibetan Carpets

Extra-Large Tibetan Tiger Carpet

Tigers were the sign of symbols for the King and high authorities in Tibet. The carpet containing a tiger as a pictorial representation is one of the most popular carpets. Tiger cut-outs are highly preferred by people.

Lotus Flower design

Tibetan carpet with lotus and border

Lotus Flower represents purity in Tibetan culture. The carpets with floral designs are mostly made up of lotus flower. It is said that lotus has a difference in meaning depending upon the color it adapts.

Swastika Design

Swastika, an ancient symbol of Buddhism represents eternal happiness. It is usually found in the border of the Tibetan Carpet. It is found in four corners.

Buddhist Symbols in Tibetan Carpets

The language of symbols is easily recognizable in carpet knotting. Buddhist symbols combined with some other symbol gives complete another meaning.

Pictures as language

Tibetan Carpet with Auspicious Symbol

A pictorial carpet is mainly referred to as an ornamental carpet which is specially prepared for decoration as well and informative purpose weather for hanging in a room or walls of the hall. These types of carpets are generally made up of silk and some of them are also made from wool. In the context of Asain art, the symbols themselves are part of visual composition.

Dragon Carpets

Tibetan-carpet-with-Dragon-in-the-center

Dragons are symbols for power, strength, and divine protection. They also represent wisdom, fortune, and advancement within the Chinese iconography. They represent that the very best divine power on Earth and were, for that reason, reserved for the emperor. The dragon stands for the Yin, symbolizing the East and therefore rain. Additionally, it’s a male element and also denotes masculinity.

Phoenix Carpets

Tibetan-Carpet-with-a-pair-of-Phoenix

Carpets consisting of the design of Phoenix refer to grace and elegance. The mythical bird phoenix combines the five qualities of a good life: virtuousness, a way of duty, blamelessness, humanity, and dependability. In its symbolic grace and elegance, the phoenix was also a logo reserved for an empress in China.

Dragon and Phoenix carpet

Tibetan Carpet with Dragon and Phoenix

Dragon and Phoenix are two of the most powerful symbols of success and prosperity in Chinese mythology. Within the Chinese iconography, the mixture of the dragon and phoenix developed a replacement meaning. Together, they represent the imperial pair (emperor and empress), the harmonic unity of masculinity and femininity, also as that of Yin and Yang. Dragon is the “Yin” and Phoenix is the “Yang”, believed for a perfect balance that is needed for a successful life. There is a belief that if the carpet having both Dragon and Phoenix is kept, This will lead to a happy marriage life or successful married life. The motif of this carpet is successful and leading a happy life.

Chrysanthemum

Tibetan carpet with flower and butterfly design

Chrysanthemum sounds almost like the concept of “resistance” or “to take a stand” also as “a long time” or a “long life.” The chrysanthemum therefore also symbolically appears for deciding something. This design carpets especially refer to independence, to give people one’s freedom.

Floral forms

Tibetan-carpet-with-3-Flower-design

Also, the non-pictorial ornamentation represents the reference to the Buddhist tradition which is a commonly occurring element that is known as Buddhist knots or the eternal knots. It symbolizes the life eternal but also the lasting fortune. The medallions are connected to the Buddhist symbol of the wheel, which represents durability, stability, also because of the cycle of rebirth.

Coin design

Tibetan carpet with coin design in center

The carpet consisting of coin design especially peace and happiness and the strength of wealth. Tibetan locals weave these carpets and put them in their house in the belief of eternal peace and harmony among family, friends, relatives, and so on. Coin and Floral design Tibetan Carpet having both coin and floral design symbolizes life’s never-ending and also everlasting fortune along with peace and happiness.

Orchid Design

Orchid design carpets are the most popular carpets in these modern days. The Orchid Symbolizes refinement and humility. Above all, the feminine beauty, the sweet scent the orchid gives off is represented by these carpets.

Large Tibetan Tiger Carpet

Large Tibetan Tiger Carpet is made by Tibetan weavers in Kathmandu using Tibetan wool.

Buy Tibetan Tiger Carpet