Surface Finishes
The surface finish influences both the appearance of the stupa and the way it integrates into an altar or sacred space. The choice is primarily guided by the character of the environment, whether for home practice or for a Buddhist center.
A stupa can be finished with genuine 24-karat gold leaf gilding, or with an acrylic paint finish in a gold tone. Both options represent a full, authentic finish and differ mainly in the technology and materials used.
An alternative is a more restrained version without ornamentation, where the lion throne remains in a pure white sculptural form, while the upper part of the stupa is painted or gilded. This approach emphasizes simplicity of form and allows the stupa to blend harmoniously into different types of interiors.
White Finish
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A stupa in a version with a pure white lion throne without ornamentation emphasizes simplicity and purity of form. The lion throne remains undecorated, while the upper part of the stupa may be gilded or painted, creating a restrained and visually balanced composition.
Painted Finish
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The painted finish allows the ornaments, snow lions, and other decorative elements of the stupa to stand out clearly. Acrylic paint in a gold tone, combined with colored details, creates a balanced contrast between the structural form and the ornamentation. The lion throne is complemented with cut glass stones, which subtly enhance the decorative elements.
Gilded Finish
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High-gloss gilded ornaments combined with painted snow lions correspond to the traditional appearance of altar stupas in Tibetan Buddhism. Gold is used here as a material with an established symbolic meaning and highlights the character of the ornamentation. The lion throne is complemented with cut glass stones. For the gilding of Tibetan stupas, we use triple-layer genuine 24-karat gold leaf.