By ASHOKE NAG
KOLKATA – The impasse over Tibet’s status maybe far from blowing away. But, that has not stifled the excitement among art collectors over Tibetan thangkas (scroll paintings).
Collectors across Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad have not wasted an opportunity to pick up a thangka worth the money.
Today, these mystical objects d’art, dating from the 14th century till the 18th century or 19th century, can be priced anywhere between $2,000 and $200,000 depending on their quality and content.
“Of course, the quality aspect of a thangka can only be gauged by art specialists and connoisseurs. It’s quite a specialised segment in that sense,” art market sources told ET from Kolkata and Mumbai.
Sample a few thangkas, for instance. A 15th century thangka of Arhat goes for $70,000-100,000, while a 14th century thangka of Vajarasattva is priced at $50,000-70,000. At the same time, a 19th century thangka of medical painting of white channels is priced at $30,000-40,000.
Some 14th century thangkas of the ‘Adi Buddha’ are valued in the bracket of $50,000-70,000, while the last thangka of Yamantaka, a largish creation, is in the region of $70,000-100,000.
The more recent a thangka piece, less expensive it normally is. The 19th century thangka of Mandala, for example, sports a price tag of around $20,000-30,000, even as the 14th century thangka of Yab-Yum figures in price territory of $60,000-90,000. “Collectors have eyed Tibetan thangkas from the British period.
But, it’s not always easy to chance upon a thangka with the right provenance (background) where its age can be accurately established. Besides, some are invariably not preserved properly.
These factors can be a hindrance for a serious collector,” the sources said.
However, with the steady growth and expansion of the Indian art market, the possibilities for thangkas as a collector’s piece are opening up much more, they said.
“Those who collect sculptures and miniatures, together with paintings, always look for good thangka work. Thangkas can especially be compared to miniature creations and could be as important an art form. Therefore, with the overall growth in the value of artworks, thangka prices are expected to rise.”
There are thangkas which have been created lately too and a fair amount of trade in these items takes place in Nepal and Bhutan, which could be circulating in India. Original 20th century thangkas are priced between Rs 500 and Rs 50,000.
“But, Indian buying of thangkas could go up at auctions if the government decides to do way with import duty. These are heritage works after all,” the sources said
