Tibetan tantric rug depicting a grinning skeletal form and alternating grinning skulls and scowling disembodied heads around the perimeter. The colours employed appear to be all natural, both the warp and weft and pile are of a very fine hand spun wool (see circular image) and the size is 140cm x 76cm (55in x 30in). It was made circa 1900 or possibly before (and certainly not latter than the early 1900’s) and except for some fraying at either end and low pile in parts, it is in very good condition with no repairs or reweaves. It has excellent provenience as was originally bought in the early 1970’s in Kathmandu, Nepal, and has been in the one owners hands ever since and is therefore guaranteed not to be a modern copy (as many purported ‘antique’ carpets of this type often are now). Both ends have a backing strip, which was sewn on to stabilise the ends from further fraying, and also to facilitate threading a rod through same to allow wall hanging (which is how it has been featured when displayed since its purchase). As these genuinely old skeletal tantric rugs are rare, especially in good condition, this is a unique opportunity for a serious collector to acquire an unquestionably authentic antique piece. For more photos and information please see https://warpandweft.club/portfolio-item/other-tibetan-carpets-item-25/