About Us > Thangkas

Thangka - Mandala
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In early 2008 we have begun to offer Tibetan thangkas in our online auctions and for direct purchase. The owner of artelino has a very special and personal relationship with these unique and intricately made art products. He saw them for the first time in the 1970s in Nepal and has then started to collect them. This page is meant as a short introduction to these stunning Buddhist paintings that represent a long tradition and a unique culture that developed in the seclusion of the Himalayas.

To see Tibetan thangkas that you can buy right now, please got to Buy Direct, check our Auction Calendar or Contact Us.

Tibetan and Nepalese Thangkas

One of the most popular and probably best known Himalayan art objects are thangkas. They are religious paintings rooted in Buddhism and Hinduism. The skill of thangka painting has fortunately not died out despite the influence of tourism and the impact of modern Western civilization. There are still dozens of painting workshops and single, freelance painters mainly in the Kathmandu valley, with some producing excellent thangkas, that we then offer our clients.

Original Buddhist Paintings

Tibetan Thangka
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Tibetan/Nepalese thangkas are still made in the same way using old techniques, tools and materials, as they have been made for centuries. Painting a good thangka takes seldom less than one month, usually several months and sometimes more than one year.

Prices vary depending on quality, ranging from about $100 USD to $1,000+ USD. If you buy from an honest source, you basically get what you pay for.

Thangka production is centered in Nepal, in the Kathmandu valley where the population has strongly increased in the last few decades. The valley is overflowing with its current ca. 1.5 million inhabitants. Nepal is the 13th poorest country in the world. The average income in Nepal is $170 USD per year. For that reason, you can buy a thangka for a ridiculous price considering the amount of labor required. A thangka painted in Nepal may be bought for $500 USD. But one painted in the United States or Europe would cost many times more because of higher labor costs. In long run, however, thangkas (as well as other products like hand-made metal statues and hand-made traditional carpets) will probably die out and the current prices will be a thing of the past as they become rare collectibles for the wealthy and for institutions.

How to Buy Tibetan Thangkas

Please see our auction calendar and make sure to register. If you do not want to wait until our next auction and want to buy direct instead, please contact us by e-mail or phone.