[Scriptoris] Gold leaf questions

[Jocelyn Hinkle]

gee... don't ask the small questions do you. ;-)

I enjoy the use of both patent and composite leaf. You can get some wondeful composite leaf out of Germany, and it is particularly good for use in creating "powdered" gold pigment. Somehow I dont feel so bad about grinding up $1 worth of composite leaf versus $20 of 23 carat leaf. The great thing about powdered leaf is that it can be worked with size like paint and then burnished to a high shine after. Seal the painted area with Glair and you avoid much of the tarnishing due to Oxidation.

By the by, both patent and composite leaf types were used throughout the SCA timeframe. It really depended on
a. the use it was to be put to
b. the budget for the work
c. the availability of gold in the area

Please keep in mind that the materials used in a manuscript / piece of furniture/ painting/ icon were very much reliant on the bankbook of the person commissioning the piece.

As for how to use gold leaf it is very much easier to describe the process in person than in writing, tho several authors have done a pretty darn good job of it.

My personal preference is to mix Honey or Garlic Juice into my size. Honey to extend the length of time to adhear the gold and add elasticity to the page(good for covering large spaces), and fresh Garlic Juice for extra sticking power. Size being protine based, its a glue, has the tendancy to dry stiff or brittle if used on too thin a page so the honey gives it a bit more flexibility. Don't use too much,only a couple drops, or your work will never dry or grow fungus. (Give protine a food and it gets fuzzy)

cheers
Ari
---
Find strength where there is none
left.
Scribe_Ari at Lycos.com





On Tue,  3 Dec 2002 10:42:57
 Star Signet Herald wrote:
>Greetings all!
>
>I hope everyone is doing well.  It's been a hectic few months for me for sure!
>
>I don't know much about gold leaf.  I have never even experimented with it.
>But that is changing.
>
>I was wondering if anyone out there has worked with it.
>
>And if so, what gold leaf product is best to work with on large areas as well
>as small?  What product is best if there is a great deal of gilding on a
>project?  Do you prefer to use the composites or the 23K or 24K?  And why?
>What techniques and materials are best to use?  What can you get by with if you
>don't have them or the money to purchase them?  Basically, I am wanting an
>overall opinion of the materials and tools.
>
>
>My next question will be .... Ok, now that I have all this stuff, what do I do
>with it?  But I will save that one for later.  :-)
>
>Please post your responses to the list, in case any one else out there had
>these same questions.
>
>Thanks!!!
>
>Hugs!
>Annais
>
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