Tibetan <i>thankas</i> are complex objects, with intricate iconography and technical construction. Conservators must be fully aware of a <i>thanka</i>'s religious and cultural aspects prior to attempting treatment. A combination of media such as textile, painting, wood, and sometimes leather and metal, <i>thankas</i> require a balanced approach in conservation treatment. The results of inappropriate conservation methods may well prove that the cure is worse than the disease.