Thangkas and Mandalas

Thangkas and Mandalas are hand painted by Tibetan, Bhutanese and Nepalese painters, who are practicing Buddhists. Most of these Thangkas are handmade copies of old masterworks, that were based on certain visions or rituals. Painters make their paints from minerals and herbs in the traditional manner.

Therefore it is important to protect and display these traditions respectfully and with proper custom framing methods. The traditional framing styles are usually mixed with an opulence of gold and red.

Thangkas and Mandalas

Thangkas and Mandalas are hand painted by Tibetan, Bhutanese and Nepalese painters, who are practicing Buddhists. Most of these Thangkas are handmade copies of old masterworks, that were based on certain visions or rituals. Painters make their paints from minerals and herbs in the traditional manner.

Therefore it is important to protect and display these traditions respectfully and with proper custom framing methods. The traditional framing styles are usually mixed with an opulence of gold and red.

Traditional framing styles for thangkas and mandalas

Traditional framing styles for thangkas and mandalas

Framing methods

Custom wood frames offer the best all round protection for a Thangka or Mandala painting if you want to preserve and enhance the charming looks of these intricate hand painted artworks.

We recommend framing Thangkas and Mandalas with silk borders or matboards which serve as a barrier so that the glass is not resting directly on the painting. This prevents the paints from sticking on the glazing over time. For a contemporary design, we can use simple black or gold frames to give the pieces a more avant garde and subdued look.

To see more framing examples and get inspired, click here.

Framing methods

Custom wood frames offer the best all round protection for a thangka or mandala painting and are often the only way to go if you want to preserve and enhance the charming looks of these intricate hand painted artworks.

There are some important things that we recommend with framing thangkas and mandalas. They should be framed with silk borders or matboards which serve as a barrier so that the glass is not resting directly on the painting. This would prevent the paints from sticking on the glass over time. All the thangkas normally have a 1 inch border, usually red, which will be hidden behind the matboard borders. If you would like, we incorporate rich silk textiles and mini fillet spacer frames to give a rich and soft look to each painting.

For a contemporary design, we can use simple black or gold frames to give the pieces a more avant garde and subdued look.

To see more framing examples and get inspired, click here.

Framing with the use of simpler black or gold frames

Framing with the use of simpler black or gold frames

Glazing

If you’re concerned about the reflection from glazing or would like to protect the colours from fading, we also offer these glazing with amazing non-reflective clarity and/or UV protection.

  • Matte Glass (anti-glare)
  • Plexiglas® UV100 (99.7% UV protection, shatter resistant)
  • Artglass AR 70 (anti-reflective)
  • TruVue Conservation Clear® Glass (99% UV protection)
  • Artglass AR 99 Water White (99% UV protection, anti-reflective)

To find out more about conservation glazing, click here.

Get A Quote

Glazing

If you’re concerned about the reflection from glazing or would like to protect the colours from fading, we also offer these glazing with amazing non-reflective clarity and/or UV protection.

  • Matte Glass (anti-glare)
  • Plexiglas® UV100 (99.7% UV protection, shatter resistant)
  • Artglass AR 70 (anti-reflective)
  • TruVue Conservation Clear® Glass (99% UV protection)
  • Artglass AR 99 Water White (99% UV protection, anti-reflective)

To find out more about conservation glazing, click here.

Get A Quote

Purchasing thangkas and mandalas

If you’d like to purchase an authentic thangka or mandala for framing but do not have any plans to travel to Nepal, fret not! We’ve partnered with Lucky Thangka to offer a 20% off purchase price. To enjoy the discount at checkout, use this promo code: TalentArtsGallery20

Purchasing thangkas and mandalas

If you’d like to purchase an authentic thangka or mandala for framing but do not have any plans to travel to Nepal, fret not! We’ve partnered with Lucky Thangka to offer a 20% off purchase price. To enjoy the discount at checkout, use this promo code: TalentArtsGallery20