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Gilding Leather
By Jake Berlin
Gilding is the application of thin sheets of gold or other
metal alloy such as copper or silver, to a surface. The
sheets are hand or machine beaten until they are extremely
malleable and thinner than the thickness of tissue paper.
Gilding was often used as decoration on book covers or
picture frames in the past, and gives a look of richness to
objects. When applied to finely detailed, carved leather the
effect can be quite striking.
Sizing
You¡¯ll also need an adhesive or glue to stick the leaves to
the leather. This glue is called size. A commercial-based
size works perfectly. In addition, cheesecloth or other lint-
free cloth, a stiff artist¡¯s brush to apply the leaf and some
Q-tips to remove excess gold leaf are needed, as are a pair
of square-ended rather than pointed tweezers for moving
and positioning the bits of gold leaf.
Dye The Leather First
An antique finish like Leather Glow can be applied at the
end. It gives some luster and contrast, and takes away
from the shine of the gold somewhat. Avoid solvent-based
finishers and choose one specifically designed for gilding. A
leather top-finish like Super Sheen can be applied to the
carved leather. If this is your first attempt at gilding, you
might want to practice on a piece of scrap leather first, just
to get the feel of it.
Go Slowly!
Apply the under-finish only to those areas that will receive
the gilding. Go slowly and carefully here. If you make a
mistake, wait until the under-finish is tacky, and then gently
scrape it off with the point of an x-acto knife. Wait until the
under-finish is completely dry before applying the size.
Getting Tacky
Glues vary in the length of time they require to achieve a
tacky state and remain workable, and this time is generally
indicated on the tube or bottle. When gilding a small
carving, you probably need glue that is tacky within an hour
and remains workable for another twenty minutes or so.
Use a small brush to apply the glue only to those areas that
received the under-finish. Then check for tackiness, bearing
in mind that the glue might reach that state earlier than
indicated on the bottle, depending upon environmental
variables such as heat and humidity.
Go for the Gild
Now it¡¯s time to apply the leaf. Wash your hands to remove
any oils that can affect adherence, and carefully lift the
sheet with the tweezers and your hands. Do this in a draft-
free room, as the leaf is thinner than tissue-paper. If you
need to trim the sheet, use a dull butter knife or your finger
nail, placing the leaf on a pad of buckskin. Then take the
sheet and apply it over the area that has been sized,
patting it down with a wad of cheesecloth, gently at first,
then gradually increasing the pressure, pressing the leaf
into the carving.
Use an artist¡¯s brush to tamp the leaf into the detail of the
carving. A stiff brush, ? to ? inch wide works well. Pay
attention to the edges, making sure they are well tamped
down for a nice finish. You can brush the excess bits of leaf
away, saving them in a jar for touch-ups later. Brush along
the edges until all the pieces that didn¡¯t adhere are swept
away.
The Final Touches
You can now rub the gold leaf with a soft cloth to bring out
the burnish and smooth any wrinkles. Once the glue is
completely dry, you can rub the gilding a little more
vigorously to achieve an antique appearance. This will rub
away some of the gold leaf, revealing the sizing and
antique under-finish. Don¡¯t overdo it though, and rub only
on the high spots of the carving by rubbing in a line across
those high parts and ridges. An antique finish can then be
applied, followed by a lacquer or clear finish to protect the
leaf from wear and tarnish.
Tools to Use
* Gold (or other metal alloy) leaf
* Antique under-finish
* Antique finish (Leather Glow)
* Leather top finish (Super Sheen)
* Cheesecloth or other lint-free cloth
* Glue
* Square tweezers, artist¡¯s brush
* Q-tips
* Lacquer or clear finish
* Dull butter knife
Summary
* Dye the leather to be gilded and/or surrounding areas
* Apply an under-finish to the areas to be gilded
* Apply glue to the under-finish; wait until tacky before
gilding
* Pat the gilding down, gently at first, then more firmly into
the carving
* Buff the gilded area with a soft cloth
* Apply an antique finish, followed by a lacquer
About the Author
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