Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c28.s8.t5.31

v1.c28.s8.t5.31

It is reported that even before the fourteenth century AD when fire-gilding was introduced in Tibet, the icons there used to be cold-gilded by the application of paints containing gold and binders. For example Zwalf (1981: 107) has reported that the Avalokiteśvara of twelfth century AD (No. 8 in Table 20.9) made of almost pure copper shows traces of gold but no mercury on the face; this suggests that gold-painting or cold-gilding without mercury might have been attempted (as in No. 10). Table 20.9 further shows the use of inlaid silver (eyes), copper (lips) and green stones in the icons (Nos. 9 and 11-13). Blue azurite pigment was used in several cases (Nos. 7 and 10). In some Tibetan icons of later dates (14th-17th century AD) red lead and cinnabar paints were noticed. (Oddy *et al.*, 1981: 100-101)