Tibetan weaving tradition produced the senna loop knot, a particular construction that allows for both very fine pattern work and a soft, plush hand. Workshops in northern India have continued this tradition since the mid-twentieth century, and the multi-colour stripe in this rug belongs to a contemporary reading of the older Tibetan vocabulary, with broad bands of colour replacing the more intricate medallion compositions of the Lhasa originals.

Three weavers shared the upright loom for around five months. Hand-spun Himalayan wool was dyed in small lots and tied in horizontal stripes that build the field band by band. The senna loop is cut after each row to produce the pile, and the surface is finished with a hand-shear to a uniform depth.

The composition

Horizontal stripes in deep indigo, soft russet, ivory, walnut brown, and a faded madder red, arranged without symmetry so the eye moves across the field rather than landing on a single band. The colour transitions are rendered with a slight tonal abrasion at each boundary, giving the rug an aged textile quality from the moment it leaves the loom. Over the first decade the indigo will deepen and the russet will warm by half a stop.

What you are buying

Tibetan-tradition hand-knotted wool carpets at this density are sold by Western dealers in the range of three lakh and above. The piece here is offered direct from the Indian workshop. The carpet appreciates with use rather than depreciating, an attribute no other floor covering shares at this price point.

The piece in a room

8' x 10' (244 x 305 cm) anchors a primary living room or a study. The multi-stripe field reads against pale plaster walls, against deep walnut floors, and against panelled joinery in oak. It pairs with linen upholstery in any neutral, with brass lighting, and with mid-century furniture. The horizontal banding settles rooms with high ceilings particularly well.

Conservation

Suction vacuum every week. Rotate end to end each spring and autumn. Blot spills with a clean white cotton cloth pressed against the pile from the edge inward. A wool conservator should hand-wash the rug every five years to restore lanolin and remove embedded dust. The Tibetan construction holds up to heavier traffic than the Persian-asymmetric.

Reference

• Medium: hand-knotted Himalayan wool on cotton foundation
• Dimensions: 244 x 305 cm (8' x 10')
• Construction: Tibetan senna loop knot
• Hands: 3 weavers, ~5 months
• Pile: 10 mm hand-spun wool
• Colour: multi-stripe
• Origin: India

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