Tibetan Iron-Cut Gold Craft — Heritage, Artistry, and Rarity

A lineage measured in centuries.
Iron-Cut Gold (Tiejianjin) is a Tibetan metal art practiced for over two millennia. Passed down in small workshops, the method pairs razor-fine incised linework with hand-applied precious metal, preserving a vocabulary of motifs and techniques that survived court ateliers and changing eras.

Mastery in the details.
Artisans sketch, carve, inlay, heat-press, burnish, and polish by hand—steps that demand control, patience, and a trained eye. The result is crisp relief, luminous highlights, and a balanced composition that reads as both sculpture and drawing in metal.

Made to be looked at—again and again.
Viewed in raking light, the piece reveals micro-textures, subtle color shifts, and gentle glints of gold and silver. It rewards close inspection and changes character with the hour, giving the work lasting aesthetic depth.

Rare by design.
True Iron-Cut Gold is slow to produce and taught through person-to-person apprenticeships. Limited workshop capacity and the time required for each stage make authentic pieces inherently scarce.

Material from the stars.
This edition is crafted on Russian patternless meteorite iron—a “material from beyond,” rich in iron and nickel, prized for its density, stability, and refined, steel-like resilience. Over time it develops a soft patina, adding character without compromising strength.

Why collectors value it

Documented historicity and intact craft lineage

Artistic integrity: hand work visible in every line and edge

Aesthetic longevity: light-responsive surfaces that age beautifully

Rarity: limited output, workshop-made

Extraordinary substrate: genuine meteorite iron as the canvas