Tibet Temple Runner 1996

A rare and spiritually resonant vintage Tibetan temple runner from the fourth quarter of the 19th century — a textile created not for domestic use but for the sacred spaces of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, where long narrow runners lined the pathways and meditation halls of the shrine room. The design of three seating panels, each adorned with lotus flowers and cloud motifs, reflects the specific liturgical function of the temple runner: providing a decorated surface for the cushions on which monks would sit during prayer and meditation.

The lotus — rising from muddy water to bloom in perfect purity — is the supreme symbol of enlightenment in Buddhist iconography, while the cloud motifs represent the celestial realm and the protective blessings of the heavens. Rendered in navy, French blue, yellow, pink, and red achieved through natural vegetable dyes, this runner is a rare survival from the sacred material culture of 19th century Tibet — as much a religious artifact as a textile.

Dimensions: 1' 11" x 5' 6"

Date of Manufacture: 4th Quarter of the 1800s

Place of Origin: Tibet

Material: Wool pile on a cotton foundation with vegetable dyes

Condition: Wear consistent with age and use

SKU: 1996