Nepalese Carpets
In
Nepal before 1960, whatever little number of carpets that were produced were
for the domestic market and that too not very good quality. Tibetan refugees
initiated the process of better quality knotted carpets. Even now, the
carpet belt is located in and around Katmandu.
The traditional patterns are influenced by the Buddhist arts and motifs
though in recent years modern motifs have been included. The designs are
also influenced by the Chinese motifs.The designs are first drawn on a graph
and then mapped on the loom. The Nepalese carpets are low to medium quality
in terms of knot density, density ranging from 60-120 knots per square inch.
They use high quality wool for the piles though the base may be cotton.
The Nepalese carpets have a distinct luster similar to the Tibetan carpets
because of unique knotting style and different quality of wool from the
Persian carpets. They are much more affordable than the Persian carpets.
