The process of gilding and bronzing picture frames

by Isaac H. Walker

I.

I will now proceed to give a list and description of the various implements and materials which are required in the process of gilding picture frames.

1.—A Gilding Cushion, on which to lay the leaves of gold preparatory to cutting them into the sizes required for laying. This may be procured already made. It is made of a board one-half inch thick and nine and one-half inches long by five and one-half inches wide, covered with buckskin and padded with several thicknesses of Canton flannel. It usually has a shield of parchment, about four inches high, on one end, to protect the leaves from currents of air. Underneath, is a loop for the thumb, which is to be inserted in it when the cushion is to be held in the hand. There is also another loop to hold the gilding knife when not in use.

2.—A Gilding Knife, for cutting the gold leaf. It should be double-edged and have a tolerably keen edge; not so much so as to cut the cushion, but sufficiently so to divide the leaf without tearing it. When it becomes dull it may be readily sharpened by rubbing the edges with a piece of very fine sand paper.

3.—Brushes, both bristle and camel’s hair. Numbers 4 and 5, of the bristle brushes, flat, are the sizes mostly required, either for applying the white coat or the oil-size. For the camel’s hair brushes, numbers 4, 5 and 6 are very useful, as well as a number 6 or 8 lettering pencil (brush); also several fitch blenders, numbers 9 and 10 are good sizes; procure one of each.

4.—Burnishers. These must be of several shapes and sizes. Every gilder will become accustomed to some particular shape and size, and practice only will determine the most desirable one; but for ordinary use, the following shapes and sizes will be found sufficient for almost any work:

The burnishers should be made of flint, though agate is frequently used, particularly for burnishing silver leaf. They should be securely fastened in wooden handles by means of brass ferrules. These handles, as well as the stones, frequently become loosened from continual use and require refastening. This is done by renewing the filling with gum shellac or powdered rosin, and applying sufficient heat to set the stones. On cooling, they will be found to be again firm in their sockets. The same method may be pursued with regard to the handle. A little brick-dust mixed with the rosin gives a more secure hold.

Burnishers, contrary to the general opinion of those who manufacture and sell them, should not be too highly polished, but the surface should be rather dull, as in this condition they take a better hold on the gold. If they have too much polish, they glide over the leaf without burnishing it. The polish may be subdued or removed by rubbing the burnishers with crocus martis and oil spread upon a chamois-skin. Care must, of course, be exercised in the operation, or too much of the polish will be removed and the burnisher will require to be repolished. It is, perhaps, needless to say that the burnishers should be kept scrupulously clean and free from everything like moisture and grease.

5.—Tips. These are made of both camel’s hair and badger hair. They are used to lift the gold leaf from the cushion, after it has been suitably cut, and to apply it to the surface prepared to receive it. When they do not freely take up the leaf, it is customary to pass them across the hair of the head, when they receive sufficient electricity from it to attach the gold at once to them. This attraction has been attributed to the moisture which the tips receive from the hair, but I think the notion is a mistaken one. The tips evidently become electrified, for they will, in that condition, attract the gold at some distance off. Moisture would not produce this effect. The camel’s hair tips are the best to use. Several of them will be required. It is a good plan to cut an old one down to within an inch and a half of the paste-board handle, and so use it, when very narrow slips of the leaf are being used; they can be lifted better and more safely with such a contrivance. In all cases, the tip should not be applied to more of the gold to be raised by it than is actually necessary for the purpose.