Unlocking The Secrets – The Science of Conservation at The Palace Museum

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				Case Study
			
Krishna Yamari portrait thangkaQianlong period, Qing dynasty
The ancients use thangkas as a Buddhist art form to convey religious beliefs. This thangka had been hung on the wall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Forbidden City for a long time. The materials were aged and seriously damaged by environmental factors. For example, due to the prolonged exposure to smoke, the painting was full of stains and dirt; also the stitches degraded and cracked, thus resulted in the fallen-off strips and missing frames. The conservators first recorded all types of defects, then carried out targeted conservation works to restore the original appearance of the thangka.

Stain and dirt on the painting

Fallen-off strips mount

Missing fabric mount