“Another method. Arrange three or four stones which will stand the fire without breaking, or bricks may be used instead. On these place a new pot, pour into it some fornis mentioned above, called by the Romans “glossa,” otherwise gum arabic. Over the opening of the pot, put a smaller one having a little hole at the bottom; fill in with clay so that no space remains between them. Carefully light a fire underneath the apparatus until the gum liquefies. You will also have a thin tool with a handle which will serve to stir the gum and to find out the exact moment when it becomes perfectly liquid. Have a third pot on charcoal by you in which there is hot linseed oil; when the gum is quite liquid, so that a thread of it hangs from the tool when it is withdrawn, pour in the hot oil, stir with the tool, and, when in this condition, cook all together without letting it boil, take out the tool from time to time and spread a little of the mixture on wood or stone to try its density. With regard to the proportion, be careful that there are two thirds of oil to one of gum. When it is cooked according to your judgment, take it off the fire and, covering it with care, let it cool.
“Of the Method of Colouring Tinfoil to give it the Appearance of being Gilt, so that it may be used when Gold cannot be had.
“Place the pieces (of tinfoil) side by side on the board, fasten them one by one to the wood with wax, so that they cannot get displaced, spread over them with the hand a coating of the varnish described above, and let them dry in the sun. After that take some sticks of rotten wood cut in April, slit in half and smoke dried. Peel off the outer bark and the second, which is the colour of saffron; scrape it into a clean vessel, adding to it a fifth part of saffron, macerate it well in old wine or ale; after letting it stand during the night, make it lukewarm the next morning. When in this condition, dip in the sheets of tinfoil one by one, frequently taking them out until you find them assume a golden shade, when you will again fix them on the wooden board and apply a coat of varnish as before; when dry you will have sheets of tinfoil that you can use as you wish in your work....”[20]
[20] Diversarum artium schedula, Book 1. Chapters 21 and 36.
Although it may not be possible for an amateur, incompletely equipped with the necessary implements, to reproduce the marvellous work of a byegone age, there are still many methods of decoration for him to attempt which will be equally attractive in modern surroundings.
NOTE
SOME EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
LEATHER FOR BOOKBINDING, APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL
OF THE SOCIETY OF ARTS, FEBRUARY, 1900.