Let’s understand what’s Gilding! Gilding is the ornamental practice of putting a coating of metal on a specific surface to enhance its beauty and richness. Simple! Or not so simple? This can only be accomplished by applying extremely thin sheets of the desired metal, known as a leaf, to a surface with adhesive, giving the impression of solid gold, silver, copper, or whichever metal leaf is utilised. This style of decoration is so wonderful that it has been used as a decorative element even many centuries before Christ. Certain types of gilding may be traced back to ancient Egypt, where they were discovered in paintings from Egyptian tombs.
The Process
A skill of gilding demands accuracy, delicacy and attention as the metal leaf is incredibly thin and must be handled with care. First, artisans check that the surface to be gilded is clean and free of any damage, otherwise gilding won’t be done properly. This cannot be overstated! A simple sanding process assists to level out the surface. Primer is also used to provide the surface with a consistent colour or to establish a desirable undertone for the leaves. Before applying primer, a final coat of paint, or adhesive, the surface must be cleaned with a solvent, such as mineral spirits, to remove any oil, dust, or other pollutants that may be detrimental to the coating system.
A water-based or oil-based adhesive is then used to bind the metal leaf. If you’ll speak to any gold leaf manufacturer or copper leaf manufacturer or silver leaf manufacturer or even campaign leaf manufacturer, they’ll tell you that water-based gilding is an arduous job, but it frequently results in a more polished appearance, and it is thus commonly employed on items handled at a closer distance, such as picture frames or furniture. In oil-based gilding, the oil film becomes sticky, but not wet, as it dries.
Leaf Sheets of the appropriate metal leaf are available in either loose-leaf or wax paper form with any metal leaf supplier, allowing for exact application of the metal to the correct size. Because of the leaf’s fragility, the surplus bordering the overlap of leaves may be readily removed using a delicate brush, such as sable hair, or fabric, such as velvet. To maintain the metal and keep it from tarnishing, silver, copper, and other metal leaves are commonly sealed with a protective coating after being applied to the adhesive. Gold leaf, on the other hand, is unique. Purer golds, such as 22 and 23karat, do not need to be protected. Because less than 22kt gold leaf is prone to oxidisation, it is critical to put a sealer or finish on projects that employ it.
Always take an expert’s help! WallArt is one of the leading gold leaf, silver leaf, copper leaf and champagne leaf manufacturers, gold leaf, silver leaf, copper leaf and champagne leaf distributors and gold leaf, silver leaf, copper leaf and champagne leaf wholesalers in Delhi-NCR. We have handled hundreds of residential and commercial clients over the last 20-years and have countless metal leaf work in our portfolio. Our highly skilled metal leaf artisans handle the implementation for you.
