Things You'll Need:
- Sandpaper
- Gold or silver leaf
- Water
- Glue
- Calcium carbonate
- Painter's brushes
- Soft cloth
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Step 1
Clean the entire frame with a soft damp cloth. Wipe down the surface of the frame taking care not to dislodge any larger areas of gilding and gesso. Reach into any cracks or crevices to remove hidden contaminants.
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Step 2
Sand the affected area on the frame with 200-grit sandpaper. Smooth the surface down to the base wood, taking care not to sand away any detail or structure. Wipe off the frame again with a damp tack cloth.
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Step 3
Mix the gesso by mixing chalk or calcium carbonate, woodworking glue and water together in equal amounts until it is the consistency of pancake batter. Add colors or pigments during this step. Use the gesso immediately.
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Step 4
Separate the gold or silver leaf into sections that are easy to work with. Gold and silver leaf is very fragile and can tear easily or blow away. Keep the work surface free of drafts and contaminants.
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Step 5
Apply the gesso to the frame over the affected area. Keep the gesso from spreading to unaffected areas of the frame. Let dry and repeat if necessary to fill in the frame surface to a smooth appearance.
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Step 6
Place the gold or silver leaf onto the area to be repaired. Gently lay the leaf sheet over the portion of the frame being repaired and smooth the leaf onto the surface with a soft bristle brush. Portions of the leaf will flake away as the layers are added. Continue until the desired appearance is achieved.
Comments
3dcm said
on 5/4/2009 Hi�� I have a Victorian picture frame of gesso'' however when i tried cleaning of the paint the gesso dissolved into a grunge. Should I clean it all off? or what can be done? Anyone in the know who can advise please?
LaFayEtte said
on 12/19/2008 ...a science. It commands respect.
p.s. I just realized there must be a character limit on responses. Sorry!
LaFayEtte said
on 12/19/2008 [siz]e. The size is applied to the bole or paint, not the gesso. A reference to different sizing methods can be found here in step two of my first gilding article ...http://www.ehow.com/how_4683148_various-forms-gilding-picture-frames.html
Cited from the resource link#3, titled: Discover the recipe for a great gesso here. http://www.alessandrakelley.com/gesso.html
“Chalk gesso is a white priming that is applied to a rigid substrate (i.e. some sort of board) to make a smooth, hard yet absorbent surface for egg tempera painting. It can also be used under oil paintings.”
There are several recipes for gesso, each with their own unique applications. Gesso used as a primer for paintings is different than that for gilding on wood/picture frames.
As for the 2nd resource link, I searched the site in various ways and found nothing to support this article.
Gilding is an art and
LaFayEtte said
on 12/19/2008 ...to fill in the frame surface to a smooth appearance.”. This portion of the article is not referring to the time of leaf application, but the application of more gesso. This too--is inaccurate information as gesso layers must be applied wet on wet for bonding, never wet on dry.
As for the resources:
Cited from the resource link#1, titled: Here is a great article on gilding's history.
http://www.schoolofappliedarts.org/history_p5.php
“Gold, or a substitute, may be applied in leaf form to a surface prepared by a treatment of size, mercury, acid, or heat.“
As for the author’s citation of a “great article on gilding’s history”: The article contains an extremely broad and casual history of gilding, without a mention of gilding on frames.
The author does not mention any of these methods of leaf application. The proper application method for this procedure would be siz
LaFayEtte said
on 12/19/2008 The comments I post here are not a judgement of writing ability, nor are they intended to offend. I have applied, hands-on knowledge and simply mean to add to and clarify. I am a professional gilder, frame maker and restorer of period frames. I would encourage all members with such knowledge and experience to comment here as well.
As Orlea stated “...leaf is never applied straight to the gesso layer and certainly not when it's wet.” I’ll reiterate that comment and elaborate by saying... Leaf is not applied directly to the gesso surface, whether the gesso is wet or dry. A layer of bole (aka clay) is applied after the gesso, before the leaf can be introduced.
As masondixontwins stated “...where does this author say to apply while the gesso is wet? In her defense the article clearly states "Let Dry"...” In response: The article clearly states “Let dry and repeat if necessary