CIRCA: 1930
A tiger striped Tibetan ‘goyo’ or ‘door rug’, or more accurately given its intended use, a door ‘curtain’. These pile woven goyo’s are of a special design pattern in traditional Tibetan rugs with the crossed / quadrant design, and the coloured ‘bars’ across the top, mimicking the more abundant nambu, cotton or silk goyo’s which are seen in many traditional Tibetan houses (see example bottom right image above). The simpler textile goyo’s were more abundant and used by both nomad and settled people to hang in doorways and (smaller ones) in windows. Pile woven goyo’s are however relatively uncommon as they were never woven in quantity, but as special commissions or ‘one-offs’ and offered substantially more protection against the harsh high altitude Tibetan climate. The use of tiger striping in the design here alludes to this carpet possibly being a commission for a high official or a lama / monastery. And given its condition it appears to have been rarely used, so may have been presented as a gift to one of the aforementioned personages (and subsequently mostly stored away). Made circa 1930, it has thick pile, the dyes appear natural, the warp is cotton while the weft is wool and the size is 182cm x 89cm. It was first collected in the early 1970’s and has been in the one collectors hands ever since. It is in excellent condition. ALREADY SOLD.