CIRCA: early 1900’s
Rare Tibetan throne-back-rest or ‘seating-back’ carpet made for a Buddhist lama or a very high official featuring three dragons of a type that is seldom seen on the market today.* The central main five clawed dragon is seen ‘face-on’ looking directly out at the viewer and the two lower dragons are seen in profile bowing in supplication while positioned centrally behind the main dragons body is the auspicious precious jewel that they all strive for. All three dragons are superbly drawn in the playful Tibetan manner, with the face of the main dragon showing his curly whiskers, thick long lion-like mane and ‘antler-like’ horns being very expressive. Centered at the base of the carpet is the fabled ‘Mt Meru’, underneath which is a layer of clouds while across the very bottom are stylised waves. The main border itself is an interlocked array of a floral designs which is framed by thin blue and black guard stripes.
It was made sometime in the ealry 1900’s using soft but strong Tibetan highland wool for the warp, weft and pile (assorted warp threads can be seen in the bottom right photos). The size is 73cm x 72cm and it is made with all, or predominately all, natural dyes. Given its primarily red colour it was probably used by a lama or high official associated with one of the ‘red hat’ Buddhist sects, i.e. the Nyingma, Sakya or Kagyu lineages. First collected in the very ealry 1970’s in Kathmandu, Nepal, it has been in the one owners hands ever since and we have for many years been trying to get them to part with it. That time has finally come and so it is offered on the market for the first time since its collection over fifty years ago. It is in very good condition.
*Rare because not only is this throne back carpet made in Tibet with the Tibetan knot (not in the Ningxia region of China with the ‘Chinese’, i.e. Senneh, knot, as most of this type / shape of carpet used in Tibet were) but it is also in very good condition and with excellent provenance.