Do not confuse Chinese rugs with Tibetan rugs, although today China controls a vast majority of the Tibetan rug market, and therefore may have similar motifs, the history of one and the other are not remotely parallel, and true Tibetan carpets are difficult to find. I will go into more detail about Tibetan rugs in a moment. First a little about the Chinese version.
Rugs from Mainland China
Chinese wool area rugs are a relatively new commodity that arose most notably with the art deco items in the 1930’s, because China does not have a history of wool, but of silk rugs, while Tibet has a heritage of rugs being an integral part of their culture. Most contemporary Chinese area rugs will have floral motifs with high and low pile intermixed in the same piece and large wool carpets with more traditional dragon or phoenix or medallion motifs being mostly patterned after other Chinese artwork and not because they are a Chinese carpet tradition. That said, the Chinese are masters of imitation and today make Art Deco, French Aubusson designs and mimic the Turkish, Mongolian, Tibetan and Persian rug designs flawlessly. They use Islamic architectural and religious designs as much as Buddhist emblems like the reverse swastika and Taoist symbols of longevity, prosperity and good luck.
Round Feng Shui Rugs
There is more of the round rug style that goes with certain Chinese feng shui ideas as well as red designs that many people equate with Chinese culture. Perhaps the one good thing Chinese contemporary rugs manufacturers is that they mimic other styles very well and by having factories for wool area rug production, manage to keep the costs of production low and therefore offer very affordable prices to consumers who can afford replicas and not the real thing. The best Chinese feng shui rug is the one that comes at an affordable price, with not very sharp edges, please.
Area Rugs from Tibet
There is evidence that Tibetan rugs have been around for thousands of years and have been made from the excellent quality wool of the high mountain changpel or Tibetan sheep. Hand tied knots and natural vegetable dyes and unique colors and patterns are what characterize these rugs from others. Many monasteries were once centers for weaving rugs and in fact the long runners that are so popular in modern hallways and corridors and entranceways are often patterned after the runner rugs (Wangden rugs) woven to cover the long benches where monks sat during ceremonies. Many western people have fallen in love with the small rugs used for meditation and with the khaden and the tiger skin rugs that once protected people while deep in meditation.
Chinese Tibetan Imitations
Handmade wool rug styles from Tibet should be rather oily to the touch, which is a good thing, because the wool is of a fine quality and therefore still has the natural sheep lanolin in the yarn, however many cheap area rugs that imitate the real thing are now produced in Chinese factories and in some cases traditional vegetable dyes are replaced by chemical ones and the fine knotting is left loose creating less durable rugs that shed or become threadbare quickly.
Genuine Tibetan Wool Area Rugs
Genuine natural area rugs from Tibetan weavers will not come from a Chinese factory and there are, if you search, some area rugs online where Tibetan weavers and Nepalese entrepreneurs have joined to bring you creations that are worthy of buying. Support the Tibetan trade while decorating your home by choosing genuine handmade Tibetan rugs from the smaller independent carpet dealers who promote their wares.
No related posts.
