Tibetan rugs

A different way to weave

Most hand-knotted rugs are made one knot at a time. Tibetan weavers loop the yarn around pairs of warp threads and over a metal rod that runs across the loom. When the row is finished, the weaver runs a knife along the rod and cuts the loops, which forms the pile.

The rod sets the pile height for the whole row, so Tibetan rugs have an even, often thick pile. The method is usually called the Tibetan knot, although it is a looped weave rather than a separately tied knot.

From Tibet to Nepal

Tibetan rugs were little known in the West before 1959. After that year, thousands of Tibetan refugees settled in Nepal and northern India and took up weaving to earn a living. Older rugs they brought with them also reached the market.

Weaving in Nepal grew into a large export industry. Most rugs sold today as Tibetan are woven in Nepal, many of them in Western room sizes and modern designs.

Traditional and modern designs

Older Tibetan rugs are often small. Many were made as sleeping rugs, seat covers or saddle rugs. Their designs borrow dragons, snow lions and flowers from Chinese art, but the colors tend to be brighter.

Modern Tibetan rugs from Nepal range from soft abstract washes to stripes, borders and solid fields. Many are woven to order in custom colors, which makes them popular with interior designers.

Judging quality

Sellers often describe Tibetan rugs by a knot count, such as 60, 80 or 100 knots per square inch. A higher count allows finer detail, but a 60-knot rug can be just as durable. For a quiet modern design, wool quality and a careful finish matter more than the count.

Good Tibetan wool feels springy and slightly oily from its natural lanolin. Silk or viscose highlights add sheen, but they wear faster than wool, so they suit low-traffic rooms best.

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