GILDING
Water gilding in 12, 16, 22 karat gold or oil gilding in gold or silver
metal leaf, Allison & Ross takes pride in achieving the highest
level of quality.
WATER GILDING
There is nothing quite so beautiful as gold. The painstaking and
centuries old method of water gilding brings out the most gold has to
offer. The structure of the gilded frame is comprised of many steps.
The materials and crafting in each step is critical in the success of
the final product.
Starting with the raw wood moulding we choose a tight grained wood such
as bass or poplar as the foundation of the frame. After joining the moulding
a layer of gesso is applied and then hand sanded to seal the wood and
provide a flawless base to apply multiple layers of bole, more commonly
known as clay.
The bole or clay provides the under colors for the frame, most often an
earthy red, to enrich the translucent quality of the gold. The bole,
comprised of glue as well as pigment, also marries the gold to the
gessoed surface. After the bole dries the glue is reactivated with a
substance called gilding liquor. The gold leaf squares are then applied
by hand and either burnished to a high sheen or left matte.
The final step is to distress the frame and create the patina, giving
the frame the appropriate appearance of history and to simulate years
of wear. This takes a skilled hand and eye, as well as a knowledge of
the history of frames.
OIL GILDING
Oil gilding in gold or metal leaf in the hands of a skilled artisan can
approximate real gold, especially a very antiqued gold. This process
involves much less labor than water gilding and can be an appropriate
cost saving alternative to water gilding.
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