A Tibetan monastery meditation rug

An antique double seater meditation rug, sized 32”x54”and in mint condition.
This rug was made in Tibet in the latter part of the last century and consists of two identical panels with a floral border pattern . In the center of each of the panels are a pair of foo- dogs - seng-ge.

 Traditionally used in monasteries with each square as the designated seat for a monk, the same size of the square suggests its use for a much smaller demography- possibly novice monks. However, this antique carpet is perfectly sized and would make a beautiful cover for loveseats, settees, and daybeds.

In Tibet, after the aristocracy, the monasteries were the largest landowners in Tibet and patrons and purveyors of the arts. Extreme weather conditions required monastic institutions to cover platforms with carpets for thousands of monks during religious ceremonies. These carpets had to be changed regularly due to use which required a constant supply of rugs for the monasteries. Monks and lamas interacted directly with Tibetan weavers leading to a proliferation of a unique kind of Tibetan carpets with simple motifs and muted colors.

Commonly made Tibetan carpets include: seat carpets (khagang-ma), bed carpets (khaden), and Saddle carpet sets consisting of the makden and maksho. Seat carpets were made for lamas or high dignitaries.

Smaller rugs such as this one were made in the villages around the monasteries but the larger carpets which needed multiple weavers and bigger looms were made in the workshops in the larger towns and cities.