Part IV. - Gilding

The art of silvering, as applied to cabinet work, is precisely similar to that of gilding; the directions for the one will therefore be the instructions for the other, with little other variation than using silver leaf instead of gold leaf.

There are two methods of gilding: - that for out-door work, to stand the weather, or to wash, is called oil gilding; this is performed by means of oil or varnish.

The other, called burnish-gilding, is the most beautiful, and best adapted for fine work, as frames, articles of furniture, etc. or as applied by the cabinet-maker, in the internal decoration of rooms, or the carved work of its furniture.

The Materials To Be Provided With

First, a sufficient quantity of leaf gold, which is of two sorts, the deep gold, as it is called, and the pale gold; the former is the best; the latter very useful, and may occasionally be introduced for variety or effect.

Second, a gilder's cushion; an oblong piece of wood, covered with rough calf-skin, stuffed with flannel several times doubled, with a border of parchment, about four inches deep at one end, to prevent the air blowing the leaves about when placed on the cushion.

Thirdly, a gilding knife, with a straight and very smooth edge, to cut the gold.

Fourthly, several camel-hair pencils in sizes, and tips, made of a few long camel's hairs put between two cards, in the same manner as hairs are put into tin cases for brushes, thus making a flat brush with a very few hairs. Lastly, a burnisher, which is a crooked piece of agate set in a long wooden handle.

Size For Oil Gilding

Grind calcined red ochre with the best and oldest drying oil, and mix with it a little oil of turpentine when used.

When you intend to gild your work, first give it a coat of parchment size; then apply the above size where requisite, either in patterns or letters, and let it remain till by touching it with your fingers it feels just sticky; then apply your gold leaf, and dab it on with a piece or cotton; in about an hour wash off the superfluous gold with sponge and water; and, when dry, varnish it with copal varnish.

A Size For Preparing Frames

To half a pound of parchment shavings, or cuttings of white leather, add three quarts of water, and boil it in a proper vessel till reduced to nearly half the quantity; then take it off the fire, and strain it through a sieve: be careful in the boiling to keep it well stirred, and do not let it burn.

To Prepare Frames Or Wood-Work

First, with the above alone, and boiling-hot, go over your frames in every part; then mix a sufficient quantity of whiting with size, to the consistency of thick cream, with which go over every part of your frame six or seven times, carefully letting each coat dry before you proceed with the next, and you will have a white ground fit for gilding on, nearly or quite the sixteenth of an inch in thickness.

Your size must not be too thick, and when mixed with the whiting should not be put on so hot as the first coat is by itself: it will be better to separate the dirty or coarse parts of the whiting, by straining it through a sieve.