[Jewelry making - Article 01022] - Re: [Orchid] Use of Gold Leaf

[Peter W . Rowe]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

Mark,

>     I recently found most of a package of "XX Deep 23k Gold Leaf"
>     manufactured by "Hastings & Co, Philadelphia" I would like to know
>     what the was intended 'use' was, they seem to thin for any jewelry
>     application. (The package has been between the pages of an early
>     edition of Webster's Gems for at least 25 years.) 

    As others have already pointed out, this type of leaf is most
    commonly used in gilding things, such as gold gilded lettering in
    calligraphy, bookbinding, or covering whole sculptures and temple
    domes and the like in asia, etc etc. In those applications, sometimes
    the leaf is just stuck down to adhere by itself via a rough surface,
    some burnishing, static electricity, etc. But usually, some form of
    gentle adhesive (sizing) is also used for permanence. Leaf such as
    you have is not backed with any adhesive. Just plain gold leaf.
    Usually picked up and handled with things like very gentle brushes,
    using static electricity alone to pick up the leaf, which is then
    gently applied to a prepared surface, then after the sizing has set
    some, it can be burnished down a little more if needed. One poster
    mentioned the use of leaf in hot stamping gold images, lettering,
    etc, on leather or other surfaces such as in book binding, etc. The
    hot stamping leaf is usually supplied on a film of some sort, like a
    plastic layer, with the leaf also having a heat activated adhesive.
    Usually supplied in coils of such strip, and the hot stamping
    equipment transfers the gold to the desired surface. That sort of
    material is NOT what you've got. Your's is traditional sheet form
    gold leaf. 

    While the use of this thin leaf in jewelry work is limited (too thin
    for keum-bo work, usually), it does have uses. It can be fired into
    enamels nicely, and if treated in the usual means (adhesive sizings)
    can also be put on metal. One artist I know who does this very
    effectively is David Huang. His precious little copper ornamental
    vessels are often lined with gold or silver, and he prefers to do
    this with gold or silver leaf, applied in it's traditional way,
    rather than by electroplating. the result seems to be a richer color,
    and a distinctive surface luster that differs from electroplating.
    Since the vessels are not designed for functional use (containing
    liquids, etc) the leaf surface can be considered permanent. Take a
    look at his work to see what I mean. 

    http://www.davidhuang.org 

    Do be aware that gold applied to a surface this way is somewhat less
    durable than an electroplate or true fused application like Keum-bo
    would be, since there is still that adhesive layer in there. So
    abrasion or heat could damage the gold surface. But it's still a
    wonderful look, and can be applied with less equipment than
    electroplating or a fused on layer of some sort, and it can be
    applied to things other than metal, including gems, paper, wood, etc
    etc. 

cheers
Peter Rowe
____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________