Gold leaf gilding | Water gilding
Channel: Massimiliano Gurrieri
Date: 2019-02-13

FRAME COD. 02
We show here the water gilding technique. The gilder is applying 23 karats genuine gold leaf upon the red bole using a brush.

This technique, also called Gouache gilding, appeared for the first time in the Middle ages, specifically on the gilded surface of the paintings on panels. Since then, has been used for tabernacles frames before and for Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, and Empire frames later on.

The gilder, wetting the bole with a brush, reactivates the rabbit glue of the bole. The wet surface is now ready to receive the gold leaf which will stick on the frame. A day after, when the bole is already dry, the Gouache gilding is completed and the gilder proceeds with the polishing phase, also known as gold burnishing.

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In this video, you will see only the phase of laying the gold: the most difficult part of the gold leaf gilding, the one where you need to be focused on the pillow, the knife, and the brush at the same time without losing control. 

By a complicated play of puffs, the gold leaf is extracted from the small book, cut into size, and spread gently on the wet surface. As you see, water is the key element to realize the whole process.

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For more information about frame COD.02, follow the link below: https://nowframes.com/product/cod-02-reproduction-picture-frame/

Our website:
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