CIRCA: 1920’s
A Tibetan under saddle carpet (makden) with a predominately floral pattern. The central floral roundel is enclosed by a mandala-like design, with the surrounding field consisting of scattered floral ‘sprigs’, and sparingly dispersed ‘frog-foot’ motifs. The inner secondary border is of pearls, while the outer secondary border has stylised half-gau-box like motifs in a zig-zag pattern, while the primary outer border has a design often referred to as the flower diamond pattern, or by some as a Khotanese inspired geometric motif. The four girth strap holes have all been rimmed with leather, while the outer edges of the carpet have been reinforced with cotton cloth. On one side of the central dividing ‘panel’ the Tibetan number ‘1’ can be seen (see close-up in photo above), which denotes either the first in a series of saddle carpets, or just as likely given the quality of this example, as ‘first’ as in first quality. All natural dyes with an especially saturated orange, lustrous wool and in very good condition. ALREADY SOLD.