Tibetan Split-Ply Textile tc12 18” x 38” Central Tibet - 20th c. Woven in three panels of split & braided course wool with stylistic elements from Vajrayana Buddhism often portraying vajra (dorje) and other symbolism within the chevron design elements. a Tibetan textile tradition made by splitting cords on a loom with a braiding technique that produces a long strip of heavy flatwoven fabric which is then cut and pieced together into what is usually a rectangular shape. I collected a group of these in Tibet some years ago. There was some speculation about what they were besides ‘interesting weavings’. Some still have gussets that apparently previously were used cushions or seats.