Traditional Oil Gilding

We first paint the moulding with five coats of gesso plaster. This is then smoothed with water and sanded to an even finish. Three coats of warm terracotta bole are added and sealed with three coats of French Polish.

We are then ready to apply the leaf, using a three hour gold size. Next day, when the size is completely dry, we distress the leaf and finish the frame with waxes and rottenstone to achieve the aged effect that we are aiming for.