Nepal handicraft inspection thangka painting wood carving

PRODUCT INSPECTION

Handicraft Inspection Services in Nepal - Thangka, Wood Crafts & Metalwork

Quality control for Nepal's traditional handicrafts. Thangka painting authenticity, wood carving craftsmanship, metalwork structural inspection for statues and ritual items.

Book a Handicraft Inspection

NEPAL'S HANDICRAFT INDUSTRY

Nepal's USD 80M+ Handicraft Export Heritage - Thangka, Wood & Metal

Nepal's handicraft tradition goes back millennia. Thangka paintings, carved wooden masks, gilded metal statues — Nepali artisans make some of the most culturally significant crafts on the planet. With 300,000+ skilled hands across painting, woodworking, and metalwork, this sector carries centuries of knowledge.

USD 80M+

Annual Handicraft Exports

Nepal exports over 80M in handicrafts including thangka paintings, wood carvings, and metal crafts

USA, EU, China

Primary Markets

Handicrafts reach buyers in over 50 countries worldwide

300,000+

Artisan Community

One of Nepal's largest employment sectors, spanning painting, woodworking, and metal crafting

20+ Types

Export Categories

From thangka paintings and wood carvings to brass statues and ritual items

INSPECTION SCOPE

What We Check in Every Handicraft Shipment

Handicrafts are a different beast — every piece is handmade, culturally significant, often one of a kind. Our inspectors have deep knowledge across the three main disciplines: thangka painting, wood carving, and metalwork.

We build a specific checklist for each category. Every inspection comes with 40–80 high-res photos and a detailed report within 24 hours.

Thangka painting assessment - canvas condition, pigment quality, gold leaf application, and iconographic accuracy

Wood carving inspection - wood species verification, carving depth and detail, surface finish, and crack detection

Metal craft verification - brass/copper identification, casting quality, patina finish, and structural stability

Craftsmanship quality - surface finish, detail precision, soldering, polish, and overall artistry

Dimensional accuracy - length, width, height, and weight verified against specification sheet

Structural integrity - stability, joint strength, and balance for statues and freestanding items

Packaging assessment - protective wrapping, cushioning, carton strength for fragile and heavy items

Labelling and compliance - country of origin, material content, CITES compliance for wood items

TESTING PROTOCOLS

Rigorous Testing for Every Handicraft Shipment

Beyond the visual check, we run physical tests to make sure your handicrafts are packed stoutly and crafted authentically.

Drop Test

Standard drop test on packed cartons from 1m height to verify packaging integrity and protect fragile thangka paintings, wood carvings, and metal statues during transit.

Material Verification

Wood species identification, metal composition analysis, and pigment authenticity checks to confirm materials match your specifications and comply with CITES regulations.

CRAFT CATEGORIES

Three Major Handicraft Disciplines We Inspect

Thangka Paintings

Sacred Buddhist scroll paintings requiring meticulous inspection: canvas quality, mineral pigment authenticity, gold leaf application, iconographic accuracy, and traditional mounting with silk brocade and wooden dowels.

Canvas condition & warp tension
Mineral vs synthetic pigment verification
Iconographic accuracy vs reference
Gold leaf coverage & adhesion
Silk brocade & dowel quality

Wood Carvings & Crafts

Hand-carved wooden masks, statues, architectural elements, and decorative items. We verify wood species, detect cracks and warping, assess carving depth and detail, and ensure CITES compliance for protected species.

Wood species identification
Crack, warp & rot detection
Carving depth & detail quality
Surface finish & sealant check
CITES documentation verification

Metal Statues & Ritual Items

Brass, bronze, and copper statues of deities, ritual implements such as dorjes, bells, and ghantas, and decorative metalwork. Every piece is inspected for casting quality, patina finish, structural stability, and aesthetic precision.

Metal composition identification
Casting defect inspection
Patina & surface finish quality
Structural stability & balance
Weight & dimension verification

WHY CHOOSE NTS

Nepal's Handicraft Inspection Specialists

We inspect handicrafts from hundreds of artisans and workshops across Nepal. Our team gets it — whether it's a museum-quality thangka or a production run of carved masks, we know what matters.

Discipline-Specific Expertise

Dedicated inspectors trained in thangka painting, wood carving, and metalwork assessment.

Flexible Sampling

AQL standard sampling or 100% inspection for high-value, antique, or one-of-a-kind pieces.

Nationwide Artisan Network

From Patan to Pokhara - we inspect across Nepal. Travel within Kathmandu Valley included; flat USD 200 surcharge outside the valley.

Cultural Authenticity

We verify traditional techniques, material authenticity, and iconographic accuracy of designs.

QUESTIONS

Handicraft Inspection FAQs

GET STARTED

Protect Your Next Handicraft Shipment From Nepal

Don't let craftsmanship defects or material substitutions reach your customers. Book a handicraft inspection today.

Get a Handicraft Inspection Quote

Or email info@nepalts.com / WhatsApp +977-9849169627