Laying &
Burnishing
Gold

Fig. 107.

BURNISHING THE GOLD

The Burnisher.—A tooth-shaped agate burnisher
(fig. 108) is commonly used.

The point is used for pushing the leaf into angles
and for burnishing angles (a).

Thefore-part for general burnishing (h).

The bend for cross-burnishing and for angles (c).

The side for very gentle and light burnishing (d).

The burnisher is kept scrupulously clean, and to
ensure this it is frequently rubbed on a cloth.

Dusting off the Pounce.—The edge of the parch¬
ment may be tapped smartly on the desk to shake
off the pounce, and a feather or a soft handkerchief
may be used, care being taken not to brush the
pounce over the gold.

124

is being jrressed on
to the size- See furs
106. ¿y lo^r

Brushing off IVaste Leaf.—The superfluous gold Laying &
round the edge of the gilded form may be lightly Burnishing
brushed off with the brush, either after or before Gold

the burnishing—preferably after (see p. 136).

Any gold which may
have stuck to the sur¬
rounding parchment, in
spite of the pouncing,
may be removed with
the knife or with the
hard indiarubber point,
care being taken not to
touch the gilded size.

For removing gold,
ordinary baker’s bread
is very useful, and safe.

Burnishing the Gold.

—The gold-leaf may
be burnished immedi¬
ately after laying when
the size is very dry,
but it is safer to wait
for a quarter of an
hour—or longer, if the
size is at all damp (see
Drying, p. 117).

The slab is again put
under the work, and
the burnishing is be¬
gun very gently and

cautiously : should the burnisher stick in the very
least, it is instantly stopped (or else the gold will be
scratched off), examined, and cleaned.

The first strokes of the burnisher are generally
carried all over the work, very lightly and with a

125

СІ)

Fig. 108.