Hand-Knotted Tibetan Khaden Rug | Brocade Lotus Lattice

An engaging and sophisticated design, this composition evokes the language of textile ornament rather than purely carpet-based tradition, drawing closer to the refined aesthetics of Central Asian brocade. The structure is subtly unified by dark gold outlining, which weaves the elements together with a sense of cohesion and rhythm. This feature recalls certain European-inspired brocades produced for Eastern markets, where linear definition played a key decorative role.

Within this framework, the elaborately articulated lotus blossoms assert a distinctly Tibetan identity. Their expressive forms, at once stylised and organic, animate the field with movement and vitality, transforming borrowed influences into a uniquely local interpretation.

The result is a textile that speaks of cultural dialogue—where Central Asian, and possibly European-inflected decorative ideas are reimagined through the Tibetan eye, yielding a composition that is both elegant and richly distinctive.

Referenced in “Dream Weavers – Textile Art of the Tibetan Plateau, pages 74 & 75, Plate 13”

Age: First half of 20th century
Condition: Excellent good condition for its age, structurally sound with no repairs and limited wear
Warp: 4 ply cotton, machine spun
Weft: 1 shed ivory wool
Knots: 3 + 4 ply yarn, wool
10h x 7v: 70 kpsi
Colours (10): Red / orange / blue-green / light blue / dark blue / brownish maroon / lavender / brownish orange / gray-brown / yellow-green
Dimensions: 88 cm x 170 cm (34.6 in x 66.9 in)