19
Apr
2018
Framing Your Thangka with Brocade
We offer our clients the option of purchasing a thangka mounted in the traditional brocaded way or, for those who wish a frame of their own choosing, unmounted/unframed thangkas.
The silk fabric protects the edges of the Thangka, and also makes it easier to hang. A thin silk cover protects the painting when rolled, and may be gathered up to display the painting when hung on the wall. It is generally thought that silk brocade renders a Thangka more attractive and more religious.
Table of Contents
Framing with brocade
The finished painting is sewn within a Brocade frame and finished with ribbons and silk to protect the image. The work of art is now recognizable as a Thangka!
Silk brocading is a process decorating a Thangka in traditional Tibetan style.
The frame is made of beautiful silk fabric having rich colors pigment and patterns.
Traditional History of Thangka framing
The technique of silk brocading was first developed around the 9th century AD as a way to protect paintings during transport across the treacherous Himalayan mountains.
The traditional brocaded mount consists of a narrow band of red surrounded by another narrow band of yellow, which in turn is sewn to a larger frame of semi-rectangular brocade, slightly widened at the base.
The mount is then attached to two wooden rods to keep it taut, with metal knobs on the ends of the lower rods.
The traditional belief of framing Thangka with Brocade
These beautiful, sacred pieces of art carry with them the energy of the tradition, the deities, and the artists. Traditionally, a cloth covering is used to contain the painting’s energy as well as to protect the thangka when it is not in use.
When the thangka is being used or displayed, the cloth is drawn up to form a drape resembling a flower. Stitched to either side of the cloth hang two decorative red streamers.
The best care needed for glassed framed Thangka
You should select a thangka that will need a frame, consider the following tips for best care:
- Use acid-free paper
- Have a spacer to keep the painting off the glass
- Be sure that the painting is free in the frame (not glued)
- Non-reflecting glass offers ideal view and protection
- UV glass protects the painting from ultraviolet rays if it will be near strong sunlight
Chinese Silk Brocade
We do have different types of silk brocade. some sample is listed below:
If you like one of the patterns shown above, please let us know when you place your order. Due to some reason we will be unable to provide same brocade we will provide you the similar brocade that is available.
There are thousand of different patterns and many different colors available, we will find the perfect match for your beautiful thangka painting.
Khadi Brocade
The Khadi Brocades are hand weaved from the artisan in India.
Silk Frame
Silk Brocade is the most popular form of mounting since it is seen as having greater religious merit than other less expensive types of cloth. Framing the paintings is the traditional way to represent it.
