Size. Whiting. Putty Knife. Badger Tool. Duster. Gold Leaf Knife. Cushion. Tip.
The principal tools required by the Gilder are, first: the cushion, which is a flat board covered with several layers of woollen or flannel and afterwards with a piece of leather, which is stretched tightly over it and nailed down to the edges, thus forming a firm but soft and elastic bed. A rim of parchment carried round one end of the cushion serves to hold the gold leaf. Second: a gold leaf knife—which is a straight smooth-edged instrument, not very sharp, but carefully pointed at the end. Third: the tip—a tool generally made of two pieces of card or very thin board glued together and holding between them a row of camel’s hairs. It is also necessary to have a badger tool and a duster; the first for removing the loose edges and flying scraps of gold leaf, after the gilding is completed, and the latter for brushing away dust from the frame.
Miniature Burnisher. Burnisher. No. 1. Burnisher. No. 2. Burnisher. No. 3. Chisel. Putter-down. Gold Leaf Box.
The burnishers are pieces of smooth stone (flint or agate) set in handles, and are used for rubbing some parts of the gold, when it is set on the frame, until it attains a brilliant polish and smoothness of surface: the bright gold portions of a frame being known as burnish, and the dull parts or “dead gold” as matt.
A chisel and knife are necessary for removing any inequalities or overflowings of size from the edge of the frame; the feather duster is used to dust the new gilding before it is sent home; the size pot is the vessel in which the size is melted, and the pan receives it before it is laid on. The putter-down is a large soft brush used for pressing down the gold into the ornaments, and removing the ragged edges of the gold-leaf from those parts of the frame where it is most difficult to place it smoothly.
Feather Duster. Size Pot. Pan. Gold Book.