How To Apply Gold Leaf To Paper Or Parchment

There are two distinct methods when it comes to how to apply gold leaf to paper or parchment.

Raised gilding involves knowing how to apply gold leaf onto a gesso base and when carried out in the traditional manner involves such a considerable degree of skill and time that 23 carat gold leaf is normally used.


However flat gilding involves knowing how to apply gold leaf directly onto the paper.

There are numerous methods, some of them very old, many of them very new.

The following method involves the use of traditional materials but is quite predictable.

I was using a brush or a wide flat nibbed pen and working on a heavy acid free cartridge paper.

Adhesives have been obtained from fish glue, hide glue, rabbit skin glue, egg yolk and acacia gum (gum ammoniac) to mention the most popular.

The basic idea of these traditional sizes is that the size is allowed to dry, then is re-moistened by exhaling on it. This imparts just enough tackiness to allow the gold to adhere to the size.

This is the recipe.

Place a few crystals of gum ammoniac in a small plastic or glass container with a tight-fitting lid.

Barely covered the crystals with water.

Allow crystals to soak for 12 to 24 hours, shaking occasionally, until the liquid is milky.

Strain through a piece of nylon stocking to remove any impurities.

If you just paint or write letters on your paper it will be quite difficult to see them, I advise mixing a little red colour to the size, that way your letters or whatever you are attempting to gild will be easily visible.

So you simply write with a pen or paint your letters onto the paper and leave the piece overnight.

You then breathe warmly on the letters and immediately lay the leaf and gently press it through the cotton wool pad.

There may be places where the gold has not stuck, simply repeat the procedure and add small patches of leaf until it is covered.

Allow everything to dry, and then brush away the loose leaf.

The imitation gold leaf can be lightly burnished with a pad of cotton wool.

By: Richard Norman

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

By Richard Norman www.gold-vault.com For 25 years I ran a system of craft workshops in Somerset England. In 1994 the workshops were voted a National Living Treasure for their contribution to the Arts. We became expert in the handling and application of gold leaf and imitation gold leaf; we also developed unique finishes aimed at aging and distressing gold leaf. Please visit my website for further information. (c) Copyright - Richard Norman. All Rights Reserved.

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated