Heritage, Spring 2005 Page: 34
39 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Repair of Gilded Mirrors Takes Special Skill
By Don BerkmanWhat can we do with an old
Colonial-style mirror that has been
abused badly and is in need of
repair? It seems that some of the
gold is missing.
All of these pieces I've seen are
quite collectible even though many
are reproductions. Happily, most of
them, including the reproductions,
are old enough that they have been
finished with real gold leaf, making
repairs and restorations easier.
The mirrors were done in a process
referred to as water gilding, whereby
the gold was brightly burnished.
Usually one finds that the area around
these mirrors or the "cove" is done in
a matte finish, and the balls that surround
the cove are burnished, as is
the eagle figure that may be found on
the top.Missing gold is usually the result of
over-zealous cleaning because the
gilding technique is water-soluble.
Rubbing abrades the surface to the
point that the gold is removed,
exposing the red clay beneath.
The process of water gilding is
accomplished by sealing the wood and
applying many layers of gesso that are
then sanded to a very smooth finish. A
clay mixture follows with a few coats,
which is then smoothed. The gold is
applied to the surface clay while wet,
and after a drying time, it is burnished
to that fabulous point that only real
gold can provide. Depending on tastes,
all of the surfaces can be toned and a
patina can be added. The gold leaf,
which is so thin that it must be handled
with a special tool called a gilder's tip,
comes in many shades that are designated
by karat weight.Most often, new gold may be
applied over the old, and even
though the frame may be hundreds of
years old, the prepared surface does
not change and will receive the new
additions. Missing ornamentation
can be reproduced by making molds
of surviving sections, casting replacements,
and gilding them.
Often, gold leaf work involves creating
new frames with perhaps a little
wood carving, but the repair and
approach to restoration remains a
constant challenge.
Don Berkman is a master certified
picture framer in Austin.
For more information, see www.donberkman-framemaker.com.
Those wishing
to learn more about gilding supplies
should see www.talasonline.com.HERITAGE SPRING 2005
)IIY IIYI
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Texas Historical Foundation. Heritage, Spring 2005, periodical, Spring 2005; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth45370/m1/34/: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Texas Historical Foundation.