Kesi Back of a Tibetan Chuba

This fragment of a Tibetan chuba (robe) was most probably formerly a gift from the Ming emperors to the Tibetan monasterie. These gifts were usually refashioned into robes, hangings, seat covers and so on. This chuba is woven in the slit tapestry weave technique known as kesi. Tapestry weave was first introduced into China by Uighur weavers in the eighth century.