LIFESTYLE | 07th Aug, 2025
Reviving heritage crafts inside a modern production unit where artisans lead, machines support, and every detail earns its place.
The Tibetan tiger has long existed at the crossroads of myth, ritual, and material culture. In Tibetan Buddhism, the tiger represents more than just a powerful animal—it is a guardian spirit, a symbol of protection and fearlessness, and a spiritual anchor used in religious practices and monastic art. Traditionally, tiger rugs were placed under the feet of lamas during meditation, believed to ward off evil spirits and negative energies. The tiger skin motif itself is linked to wrathful deities and dharma protectors, powerful beings who subdue inner demons and obstacles on the path to enlightenment.
Historically, these rugs weren’t always made of actual tiger skins. As hunting bans and spiritual awareness evolved, artisans began weaving tiger motifs into wool, giving rise to the hand-knotted Tibetan tiger rug. With elongated bodies, hypnotic eyes, and clawed paws, each design carried specific meanings. The stripes weren’t just for show, they mirrored flames, mountains, or sacred geometry depending on the lineage or region of the rug’s origin. Some were designed with one central tiger; others multiplied into symmetrical patterns to amplify their power. Woven in regions across Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, these rugs moved from monastic use to collectors’ homes, and eventually, into the broader design lexicon.
Today, the Tibetan tiger is no longer confined to spiritual spaces. It’s prowling across living rooms, dinner tables, and design galleries, so it’s no surprise that the Tibetan tiger has moved from temple floors to moodboards, finding form in furniture, textiles, and even tableware. Today, five brands give this sacred creature a new lease on design life without stripping it of context.
Shangrila Carpet’s Tiger Carpet
Hand-knotted in Nepal using traditional Tibetan techniques, Shangrila’s tiger carpet is a study in symbolic craft. Used recently in sitarist Rishab’s performances at sacred Nepalese sites, it bridges cultural performance and spiritual design. With earthy tones and intricate detailing, it preserves the lineage of Tibetan weaving while making it relevant to contemporary interior spaces
From Left: Priyamvada Golcha and Simon Marks, founders of Khanoom Jaipur.
Junekeri Homes’ Bagh Cushion in Rust
A softer, more accessible expression, Junekeri’s velvet cushion distills the tiger’s spirit into a small-scale textile object. Sustainably made in small batches, it balances tactile richness with a touch of the wild—adding symbolic presence to everyday spaces.
The Vernacular Modern’s Bagh Sandhara Table
Bagh Sandhara takes the concept to sculptural extremes. Crafted in native wood inlay and brass, it mimics a tiger skin not as homage, but as commentary. Equal parts design object and ecological statement, it questions what we consume, what we revere, and what we’re losing.
House of Hackney’s Saber Loveseat
Draped in the brand’s signature tiger print, the Saber loveseat merges Tibetan influence with British maximalism. With its plush velvet, mahogany legs, and forest-saving commitment, it invites slow living while carrying the design weight of cultural reference.
Chefanie’s Tibetan Tiger Salad Plate
Even the dining table isn’t spared. Chefanie’s 8-inch bone china plate places the tiger front and center—not as kitsch but as curated symbolism. Designed for both festive settings and daily rituals, it brings centuries-old meaning into modern hospitality.
From floor coverings that once held lamas in meditation to design elements now anchoring curated interiors, the Tibetan tiger has evolved without losing its bite. Sacred, striking, and still very much present.
GLOSSARY: PEACOCK’S EDITION
Fancy some spatial vocab with your coffee?
Jharokha
That tiny balcony you’ve seen in forts and Instagram reels—now miniaturized and spinning with intent.
7010 Man-Hours
Yes, someone counted. Because when design is this complex, time is currency.
Rotation Therapy
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When A Lamp Just Sits There, But Your Carousel Tells Stories
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Motion, But Make It Emotional
These aren’t toys. They’re tactile memory machines, quietly pulling at nostalgia—one spin at a time.
Marquetry > Metaverse
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Mass Production Who?
You won’t find duplicates. Each piece is unique, obsessive, and intentionally un-scalable.
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