Gyatum Honeygold

Amber gold ground. An amber field with an oval medallion of coral and cream peonies wrapped in blue leafy scrolls. Square vases sit top and bottom, and blue corner pieces of scrollwork fill all four corners. Border: A row of white dots and a blue-and-white key pattern, then a wide band of red, brown and gold tiles set with endless knots. Navy edge. Palette: Amber gold, cobalt, coral, cream, wine, moss. What it signifies: The round centre reads as a lotus seat: in Tibetan painting, the place a teacher or a deity is shown sitting, so the middle of the rug becomes a place of honour. Around it the widest border in the collection carries the palbeu endless knot in every panel, the sign of dependent origination: nothing stands on its own, everything is tied to everything else. "A lotus seat at the centre, ringed by endless knots." Auspicious for the home: The lotus seat marks the place of honour, so the rug decides where the honoured person sits. Households traditionally put a piece like this where the eldest, the teacher or the guest is seated. A strong housewarming or wedding gift, and the endless knots in the border make it a wish for long continuation. Best for: The fullest border in the range — designed to be seen from the doorway.