The aim of Practical Gilding is to demystify the processes of gilding. Descriptions and explanations of the materials, equipment and traditional, professional methods of oil and water gilding are clearly set out in a manner that can be understood both by craftsmen and those who wish to understand and apply these methods today.
Originally conceived as a pamphlet for musical instrument makers, the authors soon discovered that by expanding the text they had written a book that would be an essential tool for craftspeople, conservators, gilders, decorative artists, antique dealers and collectors etc. This Archetype edition is a facsimile of the original book published by Mac & Me Ltd.
Gold and other leaf
Goldbeating
Types of gold leaf
Silver and other metal leaves
Metal powders
Tools used in gilding
The gilders' tip
The gilders' cushion
The gilders' knife
The mahlstick
Brushes
Other tools
Gold size and resists
Gold size
Preparing surfaces for leafing and bronzing
Oil gilding
Working positions
Applying gold size
Painting lines, and other brush techniques
Testing oil size for tack
Gilding with transferred leaf
Using transferred leaf in whole sheets
Handling loose leaf
Cutting the gold
Laying the gold
Pressing the gold down
Faulting
Cleaning up
Removing gold size
Gilding mouldings and carving
Gesso
Glue size
The size coat
The intelaggio
The gesso
Recutting and water polishing
Water gilding
Clays
Making and and applying bole
Applying the gold
Double gilding
Faulting
Burnishing
Bright and mat gilding
Water gilding combined with paint
Special techniques
Transferring designs
Lettering
Gold powder and shell gold
Strewings or spangles
Metal powders
Schlag leaf
Metal and colours
Varnish
Varnish on gold
Making up varnishes
Ormolu and other shellac varnishes
Mastic and dammar varnishes
Ketone resin N varnish
Changing white metal leaf to a gold or other colour
Gold bands on harpsichords
Suppliers
Further reading
Index