Water gilding is a traditional method of applying gold leaf to wood surfaces using many gesso and bole (clay) coats, then burnished with an agate stone burnisher. The result is nothing but a beautiful, shiny, golden look. The ancient Egyptians most commonly used this technique to decorate picture frames, valuable objects, and furniture.
This workshop trains you to water gild on wood using genuine gold leaf, the ancient Egyptians’ traditional method.
— Water Gilding Workshop Outline:
- Introduction to gilding tools.
- How to make the gesso using rabbit skin glue and the gilder’s whiting (chalk)
- How to prepare the bole/gilders clay and apply it correctly
- How to make the water size.
- How to gild with genuine gold leaf (loose).
- Burnishing and finishing the gilded surface.
- Protecting the gold leaf.
Need to know:
- The workshop is one day (about 7 hours).
- Due to the complicity of this Traditional Water Gilding workshop, a maximum of two people per workshop.
- No previous gilding experience is required.
- No refund and no reschedule.
- Off-street parking is available.
- Free snacks, coffee and tea are available.
- All the tools and materials (gilder’s kit) covered in this workshop will be provided for you to use (and take) during the workshop.
Instant Gilder:
By the end of this Traditional Water Gilding workshop, you can gild on your own. So please give it a go; it could be one of the best things you have ever tried! Good luck.
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