Gold-Ground Miniature Thangkas
Gold-ground thangkas set fine linework and coloured figures against a luminous golden field. Hand-painted with natural mineral pigments and genuine 24K gold details, these 4 × 5 cm miniatures are housed in Gau boxes with cords for wearing or collecting.
About the collection
Gold-ground thangkas set fine linework and coloured figures against a luminous golden field. Hand-painted with natural mineral pigments and genuine 24K gold details, these 4 × 5 cm miniatures are housed in Gau boxes with cords for wearing or collecting.
What makes a gold-ground thangka?
A golden field is the defining visual feature of this style. With fewer broad colour changes behind the figure, outlines, garment patterns and attributes become especially prominent. Small coloured passages give the face and body definition, while the surrounding golden space holds the composition together.
Fine drawing in a miniature
In a 4 × 5 cm painting, small shifts in a contour change the expression of a face or the shape of a hand. The seated red-bodied Amitabha brings the eye to the central gesture and bowl; standing Manjushri stretches the composition through his raised sword and floral stem. Their different silhouettes show how much a painter can express within the same small format.
Mineral colour and genuine gold
Natural mineral pigments provide the colour, with genuine 24K gold used in painted details. The miniature sits inside a Gau box, with a cord included for wearing. Its golden palette can be enjoyed as a thangka pendant as well as a small collected painting.
The selection
12 worksAvailable to purchase online
