The gold leaf carries the panel — every other material is borrowed light.
A four-year survey of 1,284 commissioned Tanjore panels reveals that gilded surface area, not pigment volume, is the single strongest predictor of patron return and resale prestige.
Surface composition · median by area
Gold leaf — raised gessocrown, halo, throne ornament
47.0%
Emerald ground — velvet fieldpanel background pigment
21.4%
Crimson contour — vermilion linefigure outline, lip, garment edge
15.8%
Krishna-blue — deity fleshskin tone of cobalt deities
9.3%
Sandalwood neutral — relief shadowrecessed surface, residual board
6.5%