Laying & till the raised form underneath is indicated on the
Burnishing surface of the paper (fig. 105).
Gold These two operations may be combined by having
a little blue chalk either on the finger-tip or on the
upper surface of the rubbing paper.
Round the outline of this form the point of the
burnisher1 is worked, pressing the gold-leaf firmly
—through both the papers—against the size, in the
angle formed by the size
)and the surface of the
parchment (fig. 106).
The fore part of the
burnisher is then passed
rapidly all over the rub¬
bing paper with a firm
pressure (fig. 107).
The rubbing paper and
the other paper are picked
off, and an experienced eye
can usually tell if the gold
is sticking properly by a
peculiar, smooth appear¬
ance which it then has.
Several Letters or Forms
which are close together
may be gilded simultaneously—with one piece of
gold-leaf—as if they were one complex form. This
saves time, but if too many forms are gilded together,
some of them are liable to be less thoroughly and
effectually treated.
Small Scattered Forms (dots, &c.).—For these the
gold-leaf may be cut into a sufficient number of
little pieces, which are allowed to fall (gold side
downwards) on a sheet placed to receive them. They
Fig.
105.
1 A finer metal or ivory point may also be used.
are picked up separately by means of a needle stuck Laying &
into their backing-paper. Burnishing
Additional Coats of Gold-Leaf.—A second leaf of Gold
gold may be laid on immediately on the top of the
first; this will ensure richness and facilitate burnish¬
ing. Additional leaves may be laid after burnishing,
but, unless the first gilding is absolutely clean, there
is a risk of the second leaf peeling off when re¬
burnished.
^~bumisher.
t,'rubbin
—joui lath.
ЧЯ \pajxhment Sdb.')
% Ibearxno- size. J
Slab.
vessisi^ tke (jvlcL leaf into tke
aru¡bt frrmed bp the size & parchment.
Fig. 106.
Note.—Heavy pressure with a cotton wool pad on the back
of the gold-leaf book paper (when that is sufficiently thin) may
with advantage be used instead of the “rubbing-paper” and
bumisher-point method here shown.
123