Purple Ground Rug
N°
04148
Period
Circa 1850
Origin
Gyantse, Tibet
Status
Available
Size
79 cm x 55 cm2'7" x 1'9"
Tibetan rugs woven with thick squarish knots in brilliant colours are considered among the earliest, and are often referred to in Tibet as Gyantse. Here we see a centralised light blue archaic mandala set against an aubergine purple background punctuated by ivory ‘frog feet’ motifs, embellished at the corners with stylised cloudbands in a lighter tone of indigo. Traces of red cotton bindings are present around the perimeter, suggesting that the piece might have been intended for monastic purposes.