How to distinguish the authenticity of Thangka is a concern for Thangka enthusiasts.
When we spend a large sum of money on a desired Thangka, only to find out later that it is a fake, it is undoubtedly extremely unpleasant.
In this article, we will start from professional perspectives and attempt to make you understand the significant differences between real and fake Thangkas.
Canvas Material
Traditional Thangkas mostly use self-made cotton or silk as the base, which is flexible and fine in texture. It undergoes complex grinding and coating processes to enhance adhesion and durability.
Therefore, the canvas of a real Thangka feels warm, smooth, and tough to the touch, with a slight sheen.
In contrast, a fake Thangka may use ordinary industrial fabric, which has a rough fiber texture, overly prominent weave patterns, or a harsh glare, lacking the delicacy and handcrafted feel of traditional techniques.
Pigments and Colors
Real Thangkas are colored with natural mineral pigments such as cinnabar, malachite, lapis lazuli, etc. They possess the characteristics of saturated colors, rich layers, and a soft luster, with a unique fine granular texture, and they hardly fade or deteriorate even after hundreds of years.
For example, the blue pigment ground from lapis lazuli is deep, pure, and has a natural sheen.
Plant pigments are mostly made from saffron, Indian indigo, etc., with natural hues and a profound sense of history that emerges over time.
Imitations usually employ modern chemical pigments. Although they seem bright and eye-catching at first glance, the colors often appear dull or overly uniform, and they will fade in a relatively short period when exposed to light.
Gold Powder and Gold Foil
The gold powder or gold foil used in real Thangkas is carefully ground and blended, with an even coating. The reflective effect is warm and steady. When touched gently by hand, it feels smooth without being rough and does not come off easily.
Fake Thangkas often use cheap imitation gold materials, such as brass powder. The reflective effect is harsh and unstable, and color fading or scratches may occur after a light scrape.
Lines and Details
The production process of a real Thangka is extremely rigorous. Starting from making the preliminary sketch, the painter must compose the picture strictly in accordance with religious rituals and traditional painting norms.
For instance, when drawing a Buddha image, there are strict regulations regarding the proportion, posture, and hand gestures of the Buddha.
However, the production of a fake Thangka is often relatively rough. It may skip some complex traditional procedures. Or due to a lack of skills, it appears stiff or askew.
The details are often improperly handled. For example, the facial expressions of the figures are dull, the thickness of the lines is uneven, and it lacks the solemnity of religious art.
Symbols and Symbolic Meanings
For real Thangkas, there are strict norms for the depiction of common religious themes such as Sakyamuni Buddha, White Tara, Tsongkhapa, etc.
In terms of composition, the position and shape of elements such as the backlight and lotus throne around the Buddha image follow certain rules.
Regarding the figure's image, the facial expression and body movements of the Buddha convey specific religious meanings.
In contrast, a fake Thangka may have a chaotic composition, and the figure's image may not conform to the descriptions in religious doctrines. For example, the hand gesture of the Buddha is incorrect, or the expression is strange.
Layout and Composition
The layout of a real Thangka is well-structured with clear layers. Usually, with the Buddha or Bodhisattva as the center, the Dharma protectors, disciples or related scenes are distributed around it. The proportions are harmonious and conform to the aesthetic norms of Tibetan Buddhism.
As for the Thangkas with the mandala theme, they possess a strict geometric structure, reflecting the order and harmony of the cosmology.
The composition of imitations may seem messy or stiff, with the primary and secondary relationships being ambiguous.
For example, secondary characters may overshadow the main ones or the proportions of the main figures may be out of balance, which all goes against the artistic logic of traditional Thangkas.
Regarding Printed Thangkas
Printed Thangkas are a form of Thangkas that are not traditionally hand-painted and are quite common in the Thangka market.
There are some controversies surrounding printed Thangkas because they have greatly reduced the cost of Thangkas, and thus are sought after by some people.
However, there is no doubt that no matter how clear and gorgeous a printed Thangka may be, it should NOT be regarded as a real Thangka, as it has lost the spiritual core of Thangkas.
In the case of traditional hand-painted Thangkas, during the drawing process, painters will leave unique brushstrokes on the canvas according to different painting techniques such as flat painting, texturing, and dotting. These brushstrokes can reflect the painters' skills and styles.
When it comes to color matching, it is carefully blended and achieved through multiple layers of color gradation by the painters. Based on traditional color combinations and their own experience, painters will mix pigments on the canvas to form a natural transition of colors.
This kind of spiritual connotation poured into the hand-painted process endows real Thangkas with great artistic value.
In contrast, printed Thangkas have lost all of these. They are simply replicated by printing equipment and lack all the details.
Therefore, we don't recommend you to buy printed Thangkas. You deserve something better.
Summary
It's not easy to distinguish the authenticity of Thangkas. You needs to examine them from multiple aspects such as materials, craftsmanship, themes and styles.
This requires you to have a good understanding of Thangka art.
Alternatively, you can take pictures of the Thangka works that you are unsure about and send them to us.
Our professional Thangka painters from Tibet will help you make a basic judgment.
