Impressive Tibetan masho or 'above-saddle' carpet portraying a tiger pelt, with a benign, almost 'pussy-cat' like face. The very light brown wool is un-dyed, while the tiger pelt design itself, which at first looks black, is actually a naturally dyed blue / green colour. The wool used for the pile is very fine and handspun, and the big loose knotting is consistent with ‘early’ period Tibetan carpets. Hand spun wool warp and weft is also used for the foundation, and while there is some slight pile wear as to be expected in the center of the carpet where the rider sat (see left side of last image), there is no ‘wear-through’ anywhere. Overall it is in excellent condition and the size is 91cm x 61cm (approx. 35.7in x 24in) and was probably made circa 1900, or the very early part of the 1900's. (An almost identical designed / shaped carpet - although made earlier and from the Ningxia region of China - can be seen published on page 78, plate 6.12, in the highly recommended book Dragon and Horse by Koos de Jong. For example see last image this page https://rugrabbit.com/node/230123). Given the highly desirable tiger pelt design, and the overall shape that is rarely seen except in early Tibetan saddle carpets, it would certainly suit a collector. (For more masho’s please see https://warpandweft.club/portfolio-item/mashos/ For more information on saddle carpets from various regions please see https://warpandweft.club/saddle-carpet-shapes/