OTHER COLOURS.—The foregoing remarks refer mainly to contrasts of black and red, but apply, to a certain extent, to black with any bright colour (or gold) (see “Other Colour Schemes” given above, and p. [180]).
[CHAPTER IX LAYING & BURNISHING GOLD ] Tools & Materials — Laying the Ground — Laying the Gold-Leaf — Burnishing the Gold — Remedying Faults in Gilding — Gold Writing — Other Methods & Recipes for Gilding — Appendix on Gilding (by Graily Hewitt).
TOOLS & MATERIALS
These should be kept together in a convenient box, as it is important that the process should not be interrupted by a search for a missing tool.
| Tools and Materials. | Summary of Process. |
|---|---|
| HARD LEAD PENCIL. | For drawing forms if necessary. |
| POUNCE. | For preparing surface: “pouncing.” |
| “SIZE” OR RAISING PREPARATION. | For raising and backing leaf. |
| SMALL SAUCER. | For mixing size in. |
| NEEDLE SET IN HANDLE. | For bursting bubbles, &c. |
| QUILL PEN. | For “laying” the size. |
| KNIFE. | For trimming size, &c. |
| GOLD-LEAF. | For gilding. [p146] |
| SCISSORS. | For cutting gold-leaf. |
| BURNISHING-SLAB. | For backing the parchment or paper while under pressure. |
| BREATHING-TUBE. | For damping size. |
| RUBBING-PAPER. | For pressing leaf on to size. |
| CHALK OR SOFT LEAD PENCIL. | For marking form on rubbing-paper. |
| BURNISHER, TOOTH SHAPE. | For (1) pressing down, and (2) burnishing gold-leaf. |
| FEATHER (Brush, &c.). | For dusting off the pounce. |
| BRUSH. | For brushing off waste leaf. |
| (HARD INDIARUBBER.) | (For removing gold from parchment.) |
| (POWDER GOLD & FINE BRUSH.) | (For “mending” in certain cases.) |
LAYING THE GROUND
Drawing the Form.—Elaborate letters or ornaments may be drawn with a hard pencil, which will leave slight indentations in the surface of the page when the marks of the lead have been removed with indiarubber. In the case of free lettering or gold writing, however, the forms should be made directly with the pen (see pp. [148], [164]).
Preparing the Surface: Pouncing.—The surface is thoroughly cleaned and prepared with powdered pumice stone, or other suitable “pounce” (see pp. [167], [174]). This being rubbed well into the actual part which is to take the size absorbs grease and slightly roughens[28] the surface. The surrounding parts are also pounced to prevent the gold-leaf from sticking to them later.
Composition of the Ground or Size. The chief [p147] substance in a “size” or raising preparation is generally some kind of earthy matter, to give it body. Other substances, having toughness and stickiness, are used to bind the earthy matter and prevent its breaking when the page is turned over or bent, and also to make the size adhere to the page and the gold-leaf stick to the size. Yellow or red colouring matter is often added. A preservative, such as oil of cloves—in a minute quantity—may be present: this will permit of the size being kept in a semi-liquid condition, in a closed jar.
The following recipe was given to me by Mr. G. Loumyer:—