| We've all heard about Tibetan rugs, but are | | | | popularity is not dictated by availably. The |
| Tibetan rugs popular in our North American | | | | tiger rugs have many of the expected Tibetan |
| culture? The popularity of Tibetan rugs waxes | | | | characteristics and they are sold as |
| and wanes from month to month. One minute | | | | meditation rugs or mats. The older ones where |
| there is interest in the North American | | | | a solid color of brown, black, or deep blue, |
| market, the next there is none. | | | | while the modern ones have developed a wider |
| | | | color palette. |
| Tibetan rugs are a tribal tradition and their | | | | |
| designs are pictorial and generally focus on | | | | Any mat that is made in the shape of a square |
| the Buddhist element. There rugs will also | | | | is considered a mediation mat in Tibet. But |
| include geometric patterns. Collectors can't | | | | realistically if that was the case every |
| seem to decide if these unique rugs are worth | | | | Tibetan would be committed to dharma and |
| their investment dollars or not. | | | | meditation and no one would be doing anything |
| | | | else. |
| Older Tibetan rugs in good condition are hard | | | | |
| to find. Most never left Tibet and thus the | | | | The checkerboard rugs appear to be the most |
| only ones available in the North American | | | | popular rug from Tibet. It's apparent that |
| market are the more current rugs. Few rug | | | | when it comes to Tibetan rugs an |
| dealers provide an opportunity to purchase | | | | understanding of the pictographs is not |
| beautiful old Tibetan rugs. More often than | | | | appreciated in their rugs, unlike with other |
| not the rugs that have found their way to the | | | | cultures. There appeal as a home decor piece |
| western world are the checkerboard rugs which | | | | is very understandable as they are distinct |
| are a variety of the tsuktruk weavings. They | | | | and unique but as a collectors rug it's hard |
| are generally a single color pile weave made | | | | to comprehend what drives the market. |
| from narrow strips that are sewn together. | | | | |
| These rugs do not have designs. | | | | The market for Tibetan rugs is more of a |
| | | | decor market and less of a collectors market |
| The Wangen rugs come from a village called | | | | and even still the Tibetan rugs seem to have |
| Wangden in the village of Tsang. Wangden was | | | | a difficult time penetrating the market with |
| always one of the traditional weaving centers | | | | any strength. When it comes to interest in |
| were the warped face rugs originated from. | | | | Tibetan rugs it appears to be tied to an |
| | | | understanding of dharma and Buddhism. |
| Variations in color and structure have | | | | |
| emerged but from where no one is certain. | | | | You are probably well aware that the Tibetan |
| Most have been assigned the Bokhara name | | | | culture is seldom discussed and few people |
| which is given to all Tekke Turkmen rugs but | | | | understand Buddhism or the Tibetan people |
| there is suspicion that these rugs actually | | | | including those in the Pamir Mountains which |
| originated from the Wangden area which has | | | | are located in north Pakistan. Perhaps the |
| emerged as a modern weaving center. | | | | lacks of understanding of the Tibetan people |
| | | | is the reason that the Tibetan rugs can't |
| Tiger rugs wear also quite trendy for a | | | | seem to grab a continuously comfortable |
| period which has now waned. The interesting | | | | market share. |
| thing about Tibetan rugs is that there | | | | |