Which traditional crafts were produced in Tibet before modern industry developed?

Before the development of modern industry in the 1950s, Tibet relied on small-scale handicraft centers where artisans, known as lag-shes-pa, produced a wide variety of goods through traditional apprenticeship. These crafts were highly valued, and the government incentivized excellence by rewarding master craftsmen with official titles, estates, and money.1

Traditional Tibetan crafts included:

• Religious and Decorative Arts: Tibet is renowned for its religious scroll paintings (thang-ka), metal images, and wooden block prints.12
• Metalwork: Skilled metalworkers produced ritual objects such as lamps, vases, bells, prayer wheels, and decorated trumpets. For domestic use, they crafted ornamented teapots, jars, ladles, and stands for porcelain teacups, often utilizing copper, brass, silver, and gold.34
• Textiles and Carpets: Hand-woven carpets—often featuring Central Asian and Chinese-inspired designs—were common, as were woolen fabrics, boots, and blankets.135
• Woodwork: Artisans created carved and painted furniture, including tables and cabinets, as well as wooden bowls.13
• Other Crafts: The tradition also encompassed pottery, tanning, tailoring, and the production of incense sticks.1