Animal Band, Tibet, 19th century, 3' 3" x 4"
| Once there was a debate on whether Tibetan nomads actually were weavers. How anyone could argue against such a premise was somewhat beyond me, but that was in the "early" days of Tibetan rug stuides (1990), and since that time, we have all discovered the true nature of the weaving tradition in Tibet.
Such animal bands have begun to appear in the marketplace over the past few years, usually composed of only natural wools (as we see here) with a red trim on the edge. The desings are rather rustic renderings of ecclesiastic imagery associated with Tibetan Buddhisma, but as I have discussed in my book on Tibetan Rugs (Dream Weavers - Textile Art from the Tibetan Plateau"), many of these designs pre-date Buddhism and were appropriated by the Buddhist clergy to ensure a smooth transition from the previous religion to their own. This band is more finely woven than most I have seen, has a nice handle and is quite nice. The condition is good, with no real damage (some signs of use), and all natural wools and dyes (the red appears to be derived from madder root). |
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