LAYING THE GOLD-LEAF
Note.—In illuminated MSS., in order to avoid risk of injury to the gold it may be laid last of all (see pp. [170]–[1]). The inexperienced illuminator, however, may find it better to follow the easier method of finishing the gold before applying the colours.
The process of gold-laying must be carried out steadily and quickly; all the necessary tools, &c., should be ready to hand (see p. [145]).
The Gold-Leaf.—This is sold in books of twenty-five leaves. The ordinary leaf, about 314 inches square, consisting of gold and alloy, is said to be beaten out to less than 1200,000 inch in thickness. As gold sticks readily to gold, especially when very thin and liable to wrinkle and fold over, or to paper, red [p152] bole or ochre is scattered between the leaves of the ordinary book. This powder will come off on the work and give it an ugly colour, when burnishing, unless it is dusted off very carefully.
It is better to get gold “double” (or “quadruple”) the ordinary thickness, specially prepared for fine work such as illuminating, quite pure, and put up in white books (without bole).
Cutting the Leaf.—With the scissors, which must be quite clean and sharp (or else the gold will stick to them and tear), cut a whole or half leaf of gold, together with the paper leaf on which it lies, out of the book.
The gold is cut on one paper (fig. [99]) (not between papers, for then it would stick and tear), and the cut edges of the paper and the gold stick together slightly. If the edge of the gold is anywhere loose and apt to flap about, it and the corresponding paper edge can be nicked together with the scissors (fig. [100]). The gold-leaf being lightly held to the paper in this way is easily handled.
