Story Behind the Art : For centuries, Tibetan artisans created rugs that balanced symbolism, beauty, and practical use, drawing heavily on sacred geometry, auspicious Buddhist emblems, mythical creatures, and natural-world motifs. After the 1959 Chinese invasion and the Tibetan diaspora's resettlement across Nepal and India, the craft experienced an extraordinary revival. By the 1970s, Nepalese weavers—trained alongside Tibetan refugees—became central to preserving and advancing the tradition. Unlike the Persian or Turkish knot, Tibetan rugs use a distinctive Tibetan knot formed by looping a continuous yarn around a metal rod before cutting it to create a dense, velvety pile with striking depth. Traditional pieces reflect Buddhist philosophy, while dragons, phoenixes, cranes, and lotus motifs—borrowed from Chinese visual culture—add additional layers of meaning. Today, Nepalese and Indo-Tibetan weavers reinterpret these themes through contemporary, free-flowing designs that honor cultural heritage while appealing to modern luxury interiors.