The Tibetan Weaving Project

Historical Background
The recent history of Tibet has been one of sorrow. Despite the relative impenetrability of the surrounding mountains, Tibet was invaded and occupied by armies of the Communist Peoples Republic of China in 1950. After an unsuccessful popular revolt against the Chinese in 1959, thousands of Tibetan refugees fled across the Himalayan Mountains to India and Nepal, and a government in exile was established under the Dalai Lama, the traditional leader of Tibet. Since then, refugee communities have grown larger each year as more Tibetans flee severe political and cultural repression in their native land.

Today, despite one of the most successful resettlement programs in modern history, the needs of over 100,000 refugees exceed available resources. As a reaction to these events, Cultural Survival established the Tibetan Weaving Project. It is the intent of the Project to establish in one collection rugs that represent the various sources in inspiration found in fine antique Tibetan carpets. The design motifs and colors which have evolved in Tibetan weaving mirror the history of the region and its unique environment. Some of the simple yet powerful symbols found in its carpets appear to trace their origin to the ancient pre-Buddhist culture and religion of the area. Other, more refined elements of design clearly reflect the enormous impact that Buddhism from India and China has had on Tibet over many centuries. In addition, the neighboring cultures of Turkic Central Asia to the North and West and the Mongols to the North and East have left their own imprint on certain Tibetan carpet designs.

Perhaps as a consequence of both the intense light of high altitude and the less urban culture of Tibet, its weavers have incorporated all of the motifs into their own carpets in vibrant, saturated, primary colors. Perhaps one of the most important goals of the Tibetan Weaving Project is to provide financial support to the Tibetan community in exile. All wholesale proceeds from the sale of rugs are directed either toward the project's continued growth, or toward the benefit of the Tibetan refugee community and their children. Presently, proceeds derived from the sale of rugs are being used to pay for the education of Tibetan refugee children at Srongsten Birkhuti School, a traditional Tibetan primary and middle school in Boudhainath, Kathmandu, Nepal.

The Materials
For as long as people can remember or history records, Tibetan nomads, or Drogpas, have raised sheep on the Chang Thang, the high grasslands of Tibet. The Chang Thang is one of the highest inhabited places on earth. The animals bred there have adapted to its rigorous climate. As a consequence, sheep from the region produce and exceptionally long stapled wool with a high lanolin content and an incomparable rug wool that is extremely durable and lustrous. All rugs woven in the Project have colors derived entirely from traditional vegetable dyes, as had the original rugs. Other than indigo (blue), which is obtained in India, these dyes are indigenous to Nepal. Dye sources include madder root (various shades of red), lac (violet), walnut husks (brown), several local flowers and roots (yellows), and an overlay of indigo on yarn previously dyed yellow (green).

All Tibetan project rugs are washed in soap and water only; they are never subjected to a chemical wash as are so many contemporary carpets. Only handspun Tibetan wool or a handspun blend of Tibetan and New Zealand wools are used in Project rugs. These are superior rug wools and the carpets woven with their yarn not only will be very long wearing but also possess an inherent luster that will actually increase with years of use.