Nepalese Silk Tiger Carpet

Orange stripes on cream, bordered in black. The rug has fur and none of the teeth.

Weavers of Nepal made this tiger carpet in silk and wool in the 20th century. Tiger-skin-shaped rugs are a decorative tradition in the Himalayan region and are often woven in imitation of the real thing. The rug takes the outline of a full pelt, with splayed legs, a long tail curved upward and a head at the bottom. Rust-red and brown stripes cross a cream and tan body, and a black border outlines the whole shape. The pile has a soft, silky sheen.

A rug that sprawls across any floor and demands a respectful distance.