Uncommon thickly padded four paneled Tibetan masho - or above-saddle carpet - woven in the tsuktruk style. The naturally dyed pile is actually a deep purple, obtained from aubergine. The face has thick pile throughout save for the wear as to be expected in the center from being directly under the rider when over the saddle, and there is some edge-wear, but there are no repairs, and the stain seen on the back plain-weave cloth does not come through to the pile. It has thick 'loose' padding sandwiched between the tsuktruk and the back cloth, which is a touch ragged in parts, all from rider wear and tear. Warp, weft and pile are of hand-spun wool and the size is +/- 90cm x 60cm (approximately 35.5in x 23.5in) made circa 1900, or possibly before. (An example of a similar piece is shown and described on pages 44 and 89 in the highly recommend book Drumze – Metamorphoses of Tibetan Weaving by f Erhard & t Wild, 2022.) Altogether it is an original piece that is still in good condition for its age and hence would suit a collector. (Please see more photos here https://warpandweft.club/portfolio-item/mashos-item-2/)