The Gilded Age

A favorite hobby of mine is to spend Saturdays hunting treasures! On the road to discovering antiques, I’ve crossed the Ohio state-line to visit Chatham, Atlanta, Lexington, and High Point - and not having returned disappointed, I might add! On one particular venture, my eye caught a glimpse of a smile’s reflection. And it was mine! Having spied an ornately carved frame bordering a nicely sized mirror, I carefully teetered many objects to slide this gem out from the darkness. Immediately, my mind leapt to the potential of what it could be.



Always in search of a project, this was the perfect opportunity to try my hand at gold leafing. Having gathered all the necessary materials, the final ingredient to jumpstart my task, a larger than expected BLOCK of time!




Gold is malleable that it can be flattened into extremely thin sheets (0.18 microns – seven millionths of an inch). To give some perspective, a stack of 7.055 sheets would be no thicker than a dime. It is not unusual for gold leaf sheets to be made of 23-karat gold.
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/gold/incomparable/properties.php

Gold Leafing, also known as gilding, is quite an ancient technique which began 1000s of years ago. Traditionally, artisans would beat raw gold between pieces of leather until it was almost too thin to be seen.


According to some accounts, the ancient Egyptians were already manufacturing gold leaf around 2,500 BC, apparently the first to do so. They applied gold leaf to the pyramids. In Ancient Rome, gold leaf was used to ornament buildings. In Nanjing, once the capitol of China, the creation and application of gold leaf has been a traditional art for more than 1,700 years.

Interestingly, Kanazawa in the Ishikawa Prefecture of Japan, is known as the "City of Gold Leaf." Because Kanazawa has ideal climate conditions and water quality to sustain the production of gold leaf, this specialized industry has developed steadily since the sixteenth century. From around the nineteenth century, Kanazawa took the lead in the manufacture of gold leaf in Japan.
http://www.ehow.com/about_5325704_history-gold-leaf.html



And if you’re in the mood to expand your tastebud-palette, give this idea a try!

Apparently Italian nobility dined on risotto with edible gold during the sixteenth century. In sixteenth century England, the Elizabethans sprinkled edible gold dust on their sweets and fruits, while in Japan, it was served with sake. Gold leaf remains popular as an edible delicacy. In its purest, 24-carat form, gold is blended with silver, and the resulting product can be used to decorate cakes and other desserts or special dishes.
http://www.ehow.com/about_5325704_history-gold-leaf.html


After many hours preparing the mirror’s frame with a glue-like adhesive, I carefully rubbed small pieces of gold leaf onto its surface. Burnishing the edges with my finger and a paintbrush blended all seams. Next step in the process, sealing the finished product to protect from future tarnish. Pleased with the end result, an even bigger smile was then reflected as I inspected all facets.

The Painted Memory
(P.S. – The Necklace I’m wearing is still available!)
Mother of Pearl Petals & Yellow Quartz
http://www.thepaintedmemory.com/Jewelry/A-Dozen-Roses.shtml