Michael Imlay Studio

 

GOLD LEAF ON GLASS

The first know application of gold leaf to glass was by an Hellenic culture in Canosa Italy in 200 BC. It was used in 13th century Italian reliquaries. It was re-popularized in France in the 1700's and called Verre Églomisé. In 1849 an English sign painter emigrated to New York and introduced the process to America. Today we use 22 carat gold, hammered into leaves 4 millionths of an inch thick. If you touch it, the gold dissolves between your fingers .

 

The gold is handled with a wide and thin brush called a gilder's tip. A solution of gelatin and water is applied to the glass. When the gold is brought close to the wet glass with the tip, it jumps on to the water solution. After the gold has been allowed to dry, the design is painted with an oil based paint, in reverse, on the back of the gold. After the paint is dry, damp cottton will dissolve the gelatin behind the exposed gold, removing it and leaving only the design. When you look through the glass to the design, the finish of the gold is an almost perfect mirror.

 

 

SURFACE GILDING

Gilding on walls and architectural ornaments is done by applying the gold leaf to a special varnish that has been painted on to the surface earlier and allowed to dry to the point of having only a slight adhesion. The finish with this process is not a mirror but is bright and shiny with a rich lustre.