Our contemporary modern rug is produced in Kathmandu, Nepal, as a hand-knotted Tibetan weave in 150-knot quality in a mix of Tibetan highland wool and the finest Chinese silk. The surface is beautifully hand-trimmed to one-level pile height.
Our contemporary modern rug is produced in Kathmandu, Nepal, as a hand-knotted Tibetan weave in 150-knot quality in a mix of Tibetan highland wool and the finest Chinese silk. The surface is beautifully hand-trimmed to one-level pile height.
Technics | Tibetan weave |
---|---|
Knot-density | 150 knot |
Material | 80% wool 20% silk |
Surface | One level pile |
Pile-height | 5 mm |
Production | Hand-knotted rug |
Origin | Nepal |
Serial no. | AR-OH-101417 |
Size | Select |
Back in 2005, when RUG STAR was only three years old, I embarked on an experimental journey to explore the pile height of our hand-knotted Tibetan rugs, which we had been producing since 2002 in Nepal with Exile Tibetans. During this crucial phase of the company’s development, I devoted nearly half of the year to Nepal, working tirelessly to refine our techniques in the workshop.
It was during this period that I introduced the Organic High Collection, featuring rug sculptures that pushed the boundaries of traditional Tibetan rugs. Some of these sculptures weighed up to 200 pounds and boasted a pile height of up to 40 mm, a significant deviation from the usual 6 mm pile height of Tibetan rugs. We stretched the limits of Tibetan highland wool, ensuring that the looms held up under the strain of such unconventional designs.
However, I failed to consider the implications of these experiments in terms of the washing process. These rugs absorbed copious amounts of water, making it a challenge for a team of more than 10 workers to maneuver them out of the water tanks. The drying process and subsequent air cargo posed additional logistical hurdles. Despite the difficulties, I preserved 12 of these remarkable rugs in my archive, which I am now proud to present again on our website in the Rug Sculptures section in 2023. These pieces are truly one-of-a-kind and cannot be replicated.
These rugs hold profound personal significance for me, serving as stunning memories and milestones in the history of RUG STAR. They remind me of the relentless pursuit of pushing the boundaries in research and the idea of what a hand-knotted rug can become. While they have occasionally caused logistical headaches over the past 18 years, with their challenging storage requirements in our warehouse, they remain symbolic landmarks of my own growth as well as the evolution of the company. They serve as a constant reminder that the core of our work is to question, innovate, and never settle for the status quo.