Free appraisal
If you need it, we will provide free thangka identification service. You can take a photo (the picture should be as clear as possible) and send it to our email (service@zendothangka.com), and we will reply with the identification result within 1-3 days.
Identification Tips for Genuine Thangka Craftsmanship
How to Spotting Fake Thangkas: Print vs. Hand-Painted ?
Due to the popularity of Thangka culture in recent years, more and more people are buying and collecting Thangka, which has also led to the emergence of many counterfeit and inferior products. Therefore, we have summarized some identification methods so that customers can better distinguish the authenticity and avoid being deceived.
Telling apart genuine hand-painted Thangkas from mass-produced copies is crucial. Here’s a clear breakdown for three common types:
1、Mass-Printed Thangka ("Print")
What is it? Entirely machine printed on paper or fabric.
Smooth Surface: No texture at all. Like a poster or photo.
Flat "Gold": Areas that should be gold are just yellow/orange ink. Dull, no shine, no texture.
Pixelation: Zoom in! Complex areas (faces, patterns, clouds) will look blurry or show tiny dots/pixels. Colors might look unnatural or too perfect/flat.
Price: Very cheap (often $1-$20).
2、Printed + Hand-Traced Gold ("Print & Paint")
The main image is machine printed. Then, someone by hand traces thin lines of REAL gold paint over the printed gold outlines to give it shine and some texture.
Mixed Texture: The colored areas (Buddha, background) are SMOOTH like a print (no mineral texture).
Raised Gold Lines: ONLY the thin gold details feel slightly raised/bumpy. (Show close-up of gold lines).
"Stenciled" Gold: The gold lines look too perfect, uniform, and mechanical. Lacks the subtle variation of a true artist's brushstroke. Underlying printed colors look flat.
Price: Mid-range (often $10-$50). Don't overpay thinking it's fully hand-painted.
3、Fully Hand-Painted Thangka
Entirely painted by a trained artist using traditional mineral pigments, organic binders, and often REAL gold powder/leaf.
Texture EVERYWHERE: Visible brushstrokes and the graininess of mineral pigments. Colors have depth and variation. Feel the subtle, overall texture.
True Gold: Gold shines with dimension and depth. It can be brushed, applied thickly, or carefully laid as leaf. Look for the unique interaction between paint and gold.
Imperfect Perfection: Fine lines show natural hand-drawn variation. Complex patterns (jewels, fabrics) have slight, deliberate human inconsistencies. Faces show character and nuance. NO pixelation.
Price: Significant investment (often $150-$1000+). Reflects true materials and skill/time (weeks to months).