This hand-knotted Tibetan Dragon rug, circa 1900, features two opposing dragons in dynamic, sinuous motion, soaring through stylized clouds in pursuit of a flaming jewel—a symbol of enlightenment, spiritual wisdom, and truth. Each dragon clasps the jewel in a raised foreleg, its closed claws signifying mastery and protection of sacred power.
The dragons are rendered with expressive detail: bulging eyes, arched horns, curling whiskers, and snarling mouths, conveying their mythic intensity. Their bodies are covered in finely articulated scales, a testament to the skill of the weaver.
In Tibetan cosmology, dragons symbolize protection, transformation, and elemental power, especially linked to thunder, water, and fertility. The rug’s outer border features a bold, multicoloured motif of stylized mountains, with Mount Meru depicted on the shorter sides—Buddhism’s cosmic center—surmounted by clouds, reinforcing the theme of harmony between earth and sky.
Date: First quarter of the 20th century
Warp: Cotton
Weft: Hand-spun wool
Colours: Cream-beige/camel/light-dark red/marron/light-dark-midnight blue/light and dark orange/coral-red/walnut-brown/green grey
Dimension: 95cm x160cm (37.4in x 63.0in)
