Stores and Basic Info
Torana Main Page
About us
Mission statement
RugDogBlog
Clean. Green. Safe
Beijing store
Shanghai store
French Concession guide
China shopping tips
Contact us
Rugs and Services
About Torana rugs
Lhasa workshop (Tanva)
How we weave our carpets
Custom area rugs
Shipping
Cleaning + care
FAQs
Carpets for investment?
Rug Designs
Torana Tibetan rugs
Square rugs
Contemporary rugs
Red rugs!
Dragon Phoenix Tiger
Classic Chinese carpets
Classic Persian carpets
Antique Carpets
Buying antique rugs
Antique Tibetan gallery
Antique Xinjiang gallery
Antique furniture
Tibetan furniture
Tibetan furniture book
Collectable textiles, gifts
Tibetan Cashmere
Antique silk gallery
Tibetan Wangden carpets
Tibetan textiles
Six gift ideas
Shows and Events
Current shows and events
Events archive
Other
Press coverage
Links

 

We stock a selection of traditional Wangden rugs, a unique handmade Tibetan rug produced in only a few villages in central Tibet.

Tibetan Wangden rug weaver

Wangden rugs have a different construction to regular Tibetan carpet (drumtse). They are thicker, with a low knot-count, and they are often finished with a shaggy fringe on four sides. The main customers before 1950 were the Tibetan monasteries. Monks sitting cross legged and taking part in lengthy ceremonies appreciated these carpets for their warmth and comfort, especially in sub-zero Tibetan winters.

Many of the traditional designs and colors of these carpets are the result of monastic preferences: rugs with the crossed dorje for example were exclusively used by the monasteries. Rugs with secular designs such as medallion designs were found both in monasteries and ordinary homes.

These days few Tibetan monasteries are ordering Wangden rugs, so finding new markets for these unique rugs has become a priority.

Photo: Norgye, one of the oldest weavers of Wangden carpets, and his home-made loom

Keeping a unique tradition alive

wangden rug weaving method

We keep a selection of Wangden rugs in our stores. Each rug is unique and designs vary according to the interests of the weavers, but the selection below gives a general idea of the types and designs. Most Wangdens are either square sitting rugs (khagama) or longer sitting/sleeping carpets (khaden). Click on the images for a closer look.

Photo: finishing the edge of a Wangden carpet: the knotting method and fringe finishing are different to that found in other Tibetan rugs and unique to a small group of weavers in central Tibet.

Tibetan Wangden carpets in Torana stores

We keep a small selection of Wangden carpets in our stores: each one is different but the examples below give an idea of the range of designs.

We also have a few antique Wangden carpets: these are not on display at present but please contact us if you would like to know more.

Tibetan Wangden rug Wangden sitting/ meditation carpet #1 Wangden meditation rug Wangden sitting/ meditation carpet #2
Wangden Tibetan carpet Wangden sitting/ meditation carpet #3 Wangden meditation rug Wangden sitting/ meditation carpet #4
Wangden carpet Wangden sitting/ meditation carpet #5 Wangden rug from Tibet Wangden sitting/ meditation carpet #6
Wangden rug from Tibet Wangden sitting/ meditation carpet #7 (fringeless) Wangden Tibetan rug Wangden sitting/ meditation carpet #8 (fringeless)