This uncommon and exquisitely designed seven mandala-like roundel runner was made in Ningxia, China, in the first half of the 19th century / 1800's and came out of Tibet in the 1960's. Unlike most of this design type on the market today it is fully intact, that is this carpet is its original woven length and has not been shortened and the ends replied as many of this design type of carpets have. Size is 437cm x 67cm (approximately 172in x 26.5in ), cotton warp and weft, all natural dyes and backed by blue cotton cloth, as many carpets used by Tibetans are. The seven roundels with a mandala like outer border all have a ‘cross’ at the center which was probably meant to be interpreted as a double dorje (and almost certainly meant for a Buddhist monastery), while the apricot coloured main field is both intricately and intentionally rendered to be a very captivating and attractive design of a type rarely seen. The main border is of blue interlocking luck bringing swastikas on a golden yellow background, while the secondary inner border seems to be, on close inspection, of a zig-zag pattern. It was bought circa 1970 in Kathmandu, Nepal and has been in the one collectors possession since (until we now have it in our collection) and this is the very first time for sale on the open market since he bought over 50 years ago. It is in very good / excellent condition with no colour runs or reweaves / repairs and no stains. Serious buyers please ask for more photos.