Hand-Knotted Tibetan Khaden Rug | Tamgha Cloud Motif Field

A characteristically Tibetan interpretation, this composition draws upon the enduring tradition of cloud imagery, rendered here with a distinctly bold and ‘tribal’ sensibility. Unlike the fluid, curvilinear elegance found in silk weavings, the clouds are articulated in a more angular and simplified manner, lending the design a graphic strength and immediacy.

At the heart of each motif lies a form reminiscent of a tamgha—a tribal emblem—or a stylised ram’s horn, evoking totemic symbolism and reinforcing the connection to Central Asian visual language. These motifs are rhythmically arranged across the field, creating a pattern that is both structured and evocative.

The border, lightly suggested rather than formally contained, hints at a design intended to extend beyond its physical limits—an aesthetic concept often encountered in Central Asian textiles, where repetition implies continuity and infinity.

The result is a textile of quiet power, where symbolism, abstraction, and tradition converge in a composition that feels both ancient and strikingly modern.

Referenced in “Dream Weavers – Textile Art of the Tibetan Plateau, pages 50 & 51, Plate 1”

Age: late 19th - early 20th century
Condition: Well preserved overall, with small areas of careful and discreet restoration that blend harmoniously with the original piece preserving its continuity and spirit
Warp: Z 2 S ivory wool
Weft: 2 shed ivory wool
Knots: 3 + 4 ply yarn, wool
7h x 4v: 28 kpsi
Colours (8): Light yellow / red / pink / blue-green / purple (faded) / medium blue / light blue / orange
Dimensions: 87 cm x 175 cm (34.3 in x 68.9 in)