Wall Hangings & Thangkas

A thangka is not a picture in the ordinary sense. The Tibetan term means something like ‘scroll painting’, because thangkas were traditionally kept rolled up and carried from place to place. They show deities, mandalas and scenes from the life of the Buddha. The position of the hands, the colour of the robe, the attributes of a deity: every detail follows iconographic rules handed down for centuries. In the tradition, a thangka serves as a support for meditation and as the centrepiece of an altar.

Our thangkas are framed in hand-sewn silk brocade, and on the large ones the image itself is also hand-painted. We also carry wall hangings in many forms: embroidered pieces, images hand-printed on rice paper, hand-painted wooden panels, and traditional ceiling and door hangings such as the shambu, which hangs above doors and windows in Tibetan homes and monasteries. They often bear the Eight Auspicious Symbols, mantras or words of the Dalai Lama. The thangkas and wooden panels are handcrafted by Tibetan artisans in the Himalayas, so no two are exactly alike.

In the tradition, a thangka is hung at least at eye level and in a quiet place, out of direct sunlight, so that colours and fabrics last a long time. We are happy to advise you personally on choosing the right piece.