Gold Leaf Gilding & Other Gilding Variants Part I Gilding is a term used to describe a variety of techniques used to to apply a thin layer of gold, either as leaf or in other forms, to the surface of various materials. A few of these materials that are often gilded include wood, stone, metal, glass and parchment. Gilding also refers to the application of other metals in the form of leaf or powder. Silver, [...]
Gold Leaf Gilding & Other Gilding Variants- Part IIOil gilding is a process that is less complicated and less time consuming. The wood surface is prepared and made smooth with gesso or other coatings, smoothed and then well sealed. A very thin layer of a special oil varnish size or other adhesive size is brushed on top of the sealed surface and in a specified amount of time this will dry to a sight tackiness. [...]
Fine Antique Frames Q & AQ. What is a fine antique frame? A. The quality of antique frames can vary considerably with variations in materials and craftsmanship. Fine antique frames can be from any period in history. They would have a well balanced design that was skillfully executed. All elements of the frame from the overall scale, the shape of the moulding, the ornament (if any) and the surfaces, whether gold leaf or painted, would [...]
Throughout history mirrors have been prized and valuable objects. Framed antique mirrors may still retain their original mirror glass which is highly desirable even if the silvering has deteriorated over time. A basic understanding of historic mirrors and how they were made will kelp identify and further the appreciation of them. Since the earliest times mirrored surfaces have been made from various materials. The history of mirrors and their production is a fascinating subject full [...]
To be suitable for mirrors usually the best quality of glass produced was used. To become a mirror it needs to have a reflective backing. The 16th century glass makers on the island of Murano are generally credited with the process of slivering the back of mirrors with an amalgam of tin and mercury. The majority of mirrors were produced in this manner until the mid 1800s. In this process, paper thin sheets of tin [...]
Framed mirrors have been used for centuries in many ways . They hang everywhere from the rooms of modest homes to the opulent spaces of grand palaces. Their reflective surfaces provide depth and sparkle by visually increasing the space of the room and by reflecting back and seeming to amplify the amount of light. Of course, mirrors also function in more utilitarian ways by allowing the viewer to see themselves. Mirrors can be hung either [...]
