Dharmapala Thangka CentreSchool of Thangka Painting

In former times the picture with the illustration of a Green Tara was sewed to a brocade frame as rests of stiches prove. It shows heavy traces of usage from rolling and unrolling, especially folds and cracks in the paint layer and the fabric, a tabby woven cotton.

Particularly in the upper area a lot of parts of the base fabric are already chipped out and holes developed. The right detail shows the repaired part.

On the total surface area you see water stains, probably from rain, as well as abrasion

The back was plastered with small patches of white adhesive tape. The adhesive was strong adherent, white, thick and insoluble in water; maybe a vinyl-adhesive.

These old repairs could be taken off with solvents. The backing of the fragile picture part took place in three steps:

• Because of the breaks and losses would be retouched, it was necessary to support them with a fabric which was similar to the original to better fit in.
• With a natural glue made from an asian root a brown cotton fabric was brought to the upper part of the back of the picture.
• After that a slightly transparent Japanese Paper was glued in total for the main support.