Description

This is a small antique Tibetan wool mat probably made for seating or meditation purposes. This rug may be a type of Wangden rug, which has a looser weave, lower knot count, and a thicker pile than a typical Tibetan carpet, and also sports a thick shaggy fringe. Today these rugs are woven only in the Wangden valley, in the region south of Shigatse, though their manufacture may have been more widespread at one time. In the center of the rug is the image of a yak. The yak has important significance in traditional Tibetan culture. The yak (འབྲོང་། ) is considered the backbone of nomad life in the Himalayas, with this animal being important to the economic and personal well-being of the family. From the products crafted from yaks, the nomad family is able to clothe, shelter, and feed their family, so it is little wonder that some say their yaks are treated with respect and honor.