CIRCA: 1920
Tibetan under-saddle carpet (makden) featuring a pheonix – which, while often seen on Tibetan khadens, is a not-so-common design for the center field of Tibetan makdens – on a midnight-blue center field surrounded by branched leaves. The shape is the so-called ‘butterfly type’*, although the ‘wings’ are not as exaggerated / pronounced as many of this type / shape usually are**. The main outer border features various objects and symbols, while the narrow outermost border is a protective strip of felt covered by red nambu cloth. It was made circa 1920, or possibly before, the wool used for the pile is very fine and tightly woven, it has cotton warp and wool weft, and the size is fairly large at 104cm across the top x 118cm across the bottom x 69cm high. It is an elegant piece with a unique design in very good condition.
*This ‘butterfly’ shape for Tibetan makdens is generally believed to have been ‘introduced’ by the Younghusband expedition to Tibet (i.e. the British invasion of Tibet) in 1903, after which it was copied from those used by the British cavalry and subsequently became quite popular in Tibet. However, some scholars believe it may have been introduced to Tibet earlier, as no doubt Tibetan travellers to India would have seen the shape of a British saddle carpet well prior to 1903.
**For comparison see https://warpandweft.club/portfolio-item/makden-item-24/ and https://warpandweft.club/portfolio-item/makden-item-23/