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Burnishing Clays for Gilding
Traditional gilders use burnishing clays, also known as bole, as a base for water gilding.
These are very finely ground and come in the form of a wet paste for ease of handling. Mix one part burnishing clay with two parts warm rabbit skin glue size.
When dry, rub with ultra fine plastic abrasive pad, p.101, or horsehair to a super smooth surface. After the leaf is applied, it is burnished with agate tools.
The colour of the clay tints the gold. Red gives a traditional antique effect.
Gesso-Bole System
GESSO-BOLE effectively combines the functions of the two traditional base materials, Gesso and Bole
Ready to paint onto any hard surface, over gesso or even overgesso acrylic primer. In 6 colours, or white which can be tinted with Mixol, p.100. Allows you to create the essential highly polished base surface,ready for gilding. Only three coats are required. Smooth using aplastic abrasive pad and finish
by water polishing. Use COLNASOL to apply the leaf.
Burnish lightly when dry. GESSO-BOLE can be used
as a decorative frame finish on its own,
without gilding.
Interesting
effects can
be created
by rubbing
through layers
of toning or
contrasting colours.
Use Wax Finish Varnish or
paste wax to protect.
B BD C F S
9142B 9143B 9144B
Bole Red Bole Yellow Bole Black
1lt £41.60 1lt £41.60 1lt £41.04
100ml 500ml l litre 4 litre
Terracotta 217B 218B 219B 220B
Dark Terracotta 217BD 218BD 219BD 220BD
White Yellow Ochre Black 217C 217F 217S 218C - 218S 219C 219F 219S 220C - 220S
Stirring Spatular, Wooden
For stirring paints or mixing pastes.
£11.45 £43.90 £68.51 £191.04
Gesso - make your own
Burnishing Size
Used for adhering all types of real and metal leaf, both transfer and loose.
Can be applied over acrylic paint or traditional bole. Before applying the size, the surface should be as smooth as possible. Two or three coats will give a surface that stays ‘open’ for a couple of days, meaning it is tacky enough
Especially useful with Easy Gild Gesso-Bole, which must be carefully stirred before use. Ideal for testing wood stains.
185 Wooden Stirring Sticks
100 £2.56
Traditional base coat for gilded frames. Once hard and smoothed, coat with bole or Gesso - Bole.
GESSO RECIPE: Fill a 200g coffee jar with cold water. Add 7 heaped teaspoons of rabbit skin glue granules, and leave to soak for at least 4 hours. Heat in double glue pot, but NEVER allow to boil. Strain. Add 6-7 heaped tablespoons of whiting - stir gently to avoid bubbles. Strain.
Will keep for up to two weeks in fridge.
Apply with round Gesso brush - as any metal on the brush may corrode & spoil the gesso.
to adhere the leaf. The leaf is then burnished with an agate tool. Wash brushes in water.
See PUB037 to be distressed or to apply a patina, unlike many
Practical Gilding
Gilding requires knowledge, practice and experience. This book covers surface preparation, oil and water gilding, and much more beside. 749 See p.190.
- Allows the guilded surface
other types of size
- Can be applied directly to bare wood, particularly effective on Oak.
- Metal gold requires sealing afterwards with a lacquer to avoid tarnishing.
We should say that gilding is a skill that is only acquired with considerable practice, and much experience is required to achieve the finishes
1125 Rabbit Skin Glue 250gm £5.67
1126 Rabbit Skin Glue 1kg £18.75
2091Whiting 5kg£13.40described
Fontenay Base Coat
EASY Gold Size
Water based gold size.
Ready to use, but may
be diluted 2 or 3 times. Depending upon room temperature, it is ready for the leaf to be laid on in less than 1/2 hour. Economical and easy to use. Cannot normally be burnished.
Base preparation to be brushed on before coating with gilt varnish or gilt cream. Seals the porous surface of wood and plaster and provides an undertone
to the gilding. Apply to a clean surface and allow to dry, before smoothing with
a fine plastic abrasive pad. Use with Gilt Cream Waxes to achieve a gilt finish - see p.95.
1153A Fontenay Red 30ml Ordering information on p.193
Red
Leaf on Oak, distressed
Leaf on bole, distressed
£8.96 2928 Burnishing Size 120ml £12.99 339
EASY Gold Size
250ml £8.37
Oil & Water Gilding
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