Terry, > I'm curious, where does the term "Gilding" originate, and what does it mean? Gilding is an ancient art of applying gold to surfaces. Three forms are described. Water gilding is the oldest and I think yields the nicest results. It is also the most difficult, requiring an ambidextrous technique holding leaf with one brush and sizing the built-up and burnished surface with another. Oil, or mordant gilding is less intensive, where size is allowed nearly to dry before the leaf is applied. More recently, 'bronzing powders' have been used to a similar effect, mixed and applied in a medium. >From http://www.antiquerestorers.com/Articles/GOLD/GLOSSARY2.html "There are binders that allow some degree of burnishing of very finely ground bronze powders, producing a far less grainy and more reflective finish than regular bronze powders would produce. Bronze powders are toxic, especially when air born." I like best the unadorned black plates in old Chickering squares. Clark
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