This carpet is made from hand-spun sheep wool yarn. It is woven in the traditional Changthang style, on a portable backstrap loom characteristic for the nomadic communities. It is a unique piece. This type of carpet is called "Tsug Den" and traditionally used as a mattress to sleep and to sit on. The weft is looped around a metal stick and then cut with a blade. It has a soft, yet solid feeling of a carpet, just like a mattress. Instead of using only 3 panels as the usual tsug den, this particular one is a rather unconventional tsug den - it was created in a bigger size in order to match the "lifeline" - the design on the carpet. Also, the design is abstract and new - it has been a challenge to our weavers. The carpet consists of 5 panels, each around 30 cms wide. They are stitched together by hand at the back with a cotton yarn. It is spun and woven by our team of settled nomads close to the city of Leh.
Additional information about the weaving and the tradition here.
made from sheep wool from Changthang, Ladakh
Size: 150cm x 225 cm at its longest panels
Weight: 5,5 kg
weft: sheep wool, warp: 100% cotton
farming: 1 year
spinning: 7 days by team of 6 spinners
weaving: 15 days by 1 weaver
Please note: This carpet is a sample piece from our first production and therefore offered at a reduced sample price. It is entirely made by hand. Irregularities in thickness of yarn are characteristic to the craft of handspinning. The weaving has been done in the traditional way which also includes irregularities. Sometimes, the width in panels varies slightly.
