Hand-Knotted Tibetan Khaden Rug | Midnight Peony Lattice

This early 20th-century Tibetan rug, set on a deep indigo-blue field, is handwoven with lustrous, soft sheep wool from the Tibetan Plateau. At its centre, three large lotus flowers bloom in a row—the middle one featuring a distinct colour palette, setting it apart from the flanking blooms.

The lotus symbolizes purity, spiritual awakening, and the unfolding of wisdom, representing the journey from darkness to enlightenment. Along each long side, eight vibrant, stylized ‘Potala flowers’—symbols of spiritual purity and enlightenment—are framed by elegant tendrils that also anchor the central blooms.

Scattered small flowers and a motif of four squares within squares evoke harmony and the balance of the four directions. At each short end, the cosmos is artistically depicted through representations of mountain, ocean, and sky, encircling Mount Meru, the axis of the Buddhist universe.

A wide, richly coloured border, along the outer frame, encloses the composition with diagonally design motifs—perhaps alluding to protection or sacred space.

Condition: Very good considering the age with no major repair
Date: Early 1900s
Warp: Cotton
Weft: Hand spun wool 
Colours (6): Light to dark indigo blue / light to dark red / hues of coral / off-white — beige — cream / camel / hues of green
Dimensions: 80 cm x 158 cm (31.5 in x 62.2 in)