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Losel doll - a yellow masked dancer

Norbulingka Institute is fortunate to be the home of the Losel Doll Museum, the world's largest collection of Losel Dolls. These beautiful collectors' items are hand-crafted by monks of the Drepung Loseling monastery. The Losel Doll project was started in 1983 as a way of preserving the tradition of Tibetan costumes, while making innovative use of the artistic heritage for which many monks were known in Tibet. Losel dolls have been showcased in the US, Europe and Asia, and several museums have purchased collections for permanent display.

A member of the team of Losel doll makers - making the dolls

The monks construct a doll's body of wire and papier maché, then affix cast metal hands. The heads are sculpted of fine clay, the faces painted, and hair attached. Dressed in tailored clothes of cotton, wool and silk, the doll is completed with jewellery and other accessories.

Representing the various regions of Tibet, the nomads, monks, Lhamo opera and ritual dance, the doll displays bring forth tears and laughter by turns from visiting Tibetans as they recall the joys of life in their homeland.