an C18th Tibetan Wangden Lamas seating meditation square. These thick heavy rugs were woven in the remote Wangden valley of Tibet and used in the monasteries there as insulation from the cold stone floors. The normal monks sat on long runners made up of many squares but the elders and Lamas had individual squares with more elaborate decoration such as this one. The double dortje seen here is an ancient Buddhist motif which came to Tibet with Buddhism in the 7th century. The knotting technique is also used in this area alone and these rugs have become known as "Wangdens". size 119 x 109 cm price £4800 aaron nejad, the organiser of larta, says Tibetan weavings are “in vogue right now, for various reasons. First, Tibetan weaving is a relatively new area of collecting and the market is still finding price levels and stability. Second, wangdens are used in Buddhist monasteries and i think there is certainly interest in spiritual beliefs outside of the Judeo-Christian tradition which offer an alternative system of beliefs. Third, Tibet is the new destination for travellers looking for different experiences and culture. The collector or decorator who likes these pieces is unlikely to be the traditional rug or textile aficionado, so it's tapping into a new group.”