A Tibetan text on metalworking from the collected writings of 'Ju Mi-Pham
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Published
Jan 31, 2022
Abstract
There was abundant production of metal sculptures, ornaments, ritual objects, and utensils in Tibet from the eleventh century until the recent Chinese occupation. However, Tibetan metalworking techniques have not been extensively studied. Comparative ethnographic studies have focused on artists in adjacent regions, particularly the Newars of Nepal. Technical studies of Tibetan objects are usually restricted to elemental analysis of the metals, and do not often include a study of casting, repairing, finishing, and decorating techniques. Few Tibetan texts discuss metalworking. One late-nineteenth century Tibetan text found within a volume on crafts is translated here. The main part of the text concerns soldering techniques and is followed by a discussion of recipes for producing artificial patinas.
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References
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G Tucci, Transhimalaya, Nagel. 1973, Geneva.
P Pal, Art of Tibet, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and University of California Press. 1983, Berkeley, Los Angeles, and London.
V Zwalf, Heritage of Tibet, British Museum. 1981, London.
E. Lo Bue, Casting of Devotional Images in the Himalayas: History, Tradition and Modem Techniques, Aspects of Tibetan Metallurgy, ed. W. A. Oddy and W Zwalf, British Museum. 1981, London.
E Lo Bue, The Newar Artists of the Nepal Valley - An Historical Account of their Activities in Neighboring Areas with Particular Reference to Tibet, Oriental Art, 31(4), 1985
E Lo Bue, The Arts of the Nepal Valley - 2, Oriental Art, 31(4), 1985/86.
I Alsop and J Charlton, Image Casting in Oku Bahal, Journal of the Institute of Nepal and Asian Studies, 1(1), 1973.
M L de Labriffe, Etude de la Fabrication d'une Statue au Nepal, Kailash, 1(3), 1973.
W A Oddy, M Bimson, and S la Niece, Gilding Himalayan Images: History, Tradition and Modem Techniques, Aspects of Tibetan Metallurgy, ed. W A Oddy and W Zwalf, British Museum. 1981, London, pp.87-102.
E Domingo-Barker and D. Barker, Metal Casting in Nepal, Arts of Asia, 14(4), 1984, pp.107-110.
CL Reedy, Modem Statues and Traditional Methods: A Casting Workshop in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, Expedition, 29(3), 1987,
V Rouge and N G Ronge, Casting Tibetan Bells, Tibetan Studies in Honour of Hugh Richardson, ed. M Aris and AS Kyi, Aris & Phillips. 1979, Warminster.
F Drilhon, Examen Radiographique, Annales du Laboratoire de Recherche des Musees de France, 1982,
J Lisak-Hours, Analyses du Decor, Annales du Laboratoire de Recherche des Musees de France, 1982,
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CL Reedy, Two Himalayan Examples of the Accomplished Heroic Maiijusri Image, Oriental Art, 36(4), 1990/91, in press.
CL Reedy, Himalayan Bronzes - Using Technical Analysis to Determine Regional Origins, Pacific Asia Museum and Robert G. Sawers Publishing. Forthcoming, Pasadena and London.
S K Saraswati, An Ancient Text on the Casting of Metal Images, Indian Society of Oriental Art, 4, 1936, pp.139-144.
M V Krishnan, Cire Perdue Casting In India, Kanak Publications. 1976, New Delhi, pp.2-8.
R Reeves, Cire Perdue Casting in India, Crafts Museum. 1962, New Delhi, pp.24-35.
M K Pal, Crafts and Craftsmen in Traditional India, Kanak. 1978, New Delhi, pp.210-219.
L Chandra (ed.), Kongtrul's Encyclopedia of Indo-Tibetan Culture, Parts 1-3, Sata-Pitika Series, vol. 80, International Academy of Indian Culture. 1970, New Delhi, pp. 563-573.
G Tucci, A Tibetan Classification of Buddhist Images According to their Style, Artibus Asiae, 22, 1959,
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0 Untracht, Meta/ Techniques for Craftsmen, Doubleday. 1968, Garden City, pp.159-162.
R F Tylecote, Metallurgy in Archaeology, Edward Arnold. 1962, London, pp. 154-155.
V Ball, A Manual- of the Geology of India, Government of India. 1881, Calcutta, p.499.
S Turner, An Account of an Embassy to the Court of the Teshoo Lama in Tibet, W. Bulmer and Co. 1800, London.
W W Rockhill, The Land of the Lamas, Century. 1891, New York,
H H Manko, Solders and Soldering, McGraw-Hill. 1979, New York.
CL Reedy, The Opening of Consecrated Tibetan Bronzes with Interior Contents: Scholarly, Conservation, and Ethical Considerations, Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 30(1), 1991, in press.
G Tucci, Transhimalaya, Nagel. 1973, Geneva.
P Pal, Art of Tibet, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and University of California Press. 1983, Berkeley, Los Angeles, and London.
V Zwalf, Heritage of Tibet, British Museum. 1981, London.
E. Lo Bue, Casting of Devotional Images in the Himalayas: History, Tradition and Modem Techniques, Aspects of Tibetan Metallurgy, ed. W. A. Oddy and W Zwalf, British Museum. 1981, London.
E Lo Bue, The Newar Artists of the Nepal Valley - An Historical Account of their Activities in Neighboring Areas with Particular Reference to Tibet, Oriental Art, 31(4), 1985
E Lo Bue, The Arts of the Nepal Valley - 2, Oriental Art, 31(4), 1985/86.
I Alsop and J Charlton, Image Casting in Oku Bahal, Journal of the Institute of Nepal and Asian Studies, 1(1), 1973.
M L de Labriffe, Etude de la Fabrication d'une Statue au Nepal, Kailash, 1(3), 1973.
W A Oddy, M Bimson, and S la Niece, Gilding Himalayan Images: History, Tradition and Modem Techniques, Aspects of Tibetan Metallurgy, ed. W A Oddy and W Zwalf, British Museum. 1981, London, pp.87-102.
E Domingo-Barker and D. Barker, Metal Casting in Nepal, Arts of Asia, 14(4), 1984, pp.107-110.
CL Reedy, Modem Statues and Traditional Methods: A Casting Workshop in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, Expedition, 29(3), 1987,
V Rouge and N G Ronge, Casting Tibetan Bells, Tibetan Studies in Honour of Hugh Richardson, ed. M Aris and AS Kyi, Aris & Phillips. 1979, Warminster.
F Drilhon, Examen Radiographique, Annales du Laboratoire de Recherche des Musees de France, 1982,
J Lisak-Hours, Analyses du Decor, Annales du Laboratoire de Recherche des Musees de France, 1982,
C L Reedy, A Buddha within a Buddha: Two Medieval Himalayan Metal Statues, Arts of Asia, 16(2), 1986, pp.94-101.
CL Reedy, Two Himalayan Examples of the Accomplished Heroic Maiijusri Image, Oriental Art, 36(4), 1990/91, in press.
CL Reedy, Himalayan Bronzes - Using Technical Analysis to Determine Regional Origins, Pacific Asia Museum and Robert G. Sawers Publishing. Forthcoming, Pasadena and London.
S K Saraswati, An Ancient Text on the Casting of Metal Images, Indian Society of Oriental Art, 4, 1936, pp.139-144.
M V Krishnan, Cire Perdue Casting In India, Kanak Publications. 1976, New Delhi, pp.2-8.
R Reeves, Cire Perdue Casting in India, Crafts Museum. 1962, New Delhi, pp.24-35.
M K Pal, Crafts and Craftsmen in Traditional India, Kanak. 1978, New Delhi, pp.210-219.
L Chandra (ed.), Kongtrul's Encyclopedia of Indo-Tibetan Culture, Parts 1-3, Sata-Pitika Series, vol. 80, International Academy of Indian Culture. 1970, New Delhi, pp. 563-573.
G Tucci, A Tibetan Classification of Buddhist Images According to their Style, Artibus Asiae, 22, 1959,
EG Smith, Introduction, Kongtrul's Encyclopedia of Indo-Tibetan Culture, Parts 1-3, Sata-Pitaka Series, vol. 80, International Academy of Indian
Culture. 1970, New Delhi,
ST Kazi (ed.), Collected Writings of 'Jam-mgon 'Ju Mi-pham-rgya-mtsho, Val. 9, bZo gnas ner mko za ma tog la ldeb, dZo Rig and sMan gyi sKor. 1975, Gangtok,
0 Untracht, Meta/ Techniques for Craftsmen, Doubleday. 1968, Garden City, pp.159-162.
R F Tylecote, Metallurgy in Archaeology, Edward Arnold. 1962, London, pp. 154-155.
V Ball, A Manual- of the Geology of India, Government of India. 1881, Calcutta, p.499.
S Turner, An Account of an Embassy to the Court of the Teshoo Lama in Tibet, W. Bulmer and Co. 1800, London.
W W Rockhill, The Land of the Lamas, Century. 1891, New York,
H H Manko, Solders and Soldering, McGraw-Hill. 1979, New York.
CL Reedy, The Opening of Consecrated Tibetan Bronzes with Interior Contents: Scholarly, Conservation, and Ethical Considerations, Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 30(1), 1991, in press.
How to Cite
Reedy, C. (2022). A Tibetan text on metalworking from the collected writings of ’Ju Mi-Pham. Historical Metallurgy, 25(1), 37-46. https://hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/554
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How to Cite
Reedy, C. (2022). A Tibetan text on metalworking from the collected writings of ’Ju Mi-Pham. Historical Metallurgy, 25(1), 37-46. https://hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/554