GILDING
Gilding is a craft in its own right. Only a handful of professionals in the Netherlands can claim to have mastered this art. It takes years of practice and experience. At BOSELIE van BOEKEL, we are proud to say that we are extremely skilled in this particular craft. We lovingly and patiently place sheets of real gold, only a few thousandths of a millimetre thick, on the frames and ornaments with extreme precision.
AN ENRICHMENT FOR ANY OBJECT
Gilding is an enrichment for any object. We have long since stopped focusing solely on picture and mirror frames. During the past four decades, we have added a beautiful layer of gold or silver to many different objects. Ranging from statues, consoles, cabinets and armchairs to ornaments on walls and ceilings, railings and sundials.
This process is usually intended to have an aesthetic effect: it makes a beautiful object even more beautiful. The gilding playfully reflects light and can emphasise and enhance the colours in a painting.
FROM WOOD TO GOLD
Gold is available in many colours and grades of purity. For example, one type of gold is warm in appearance, compared to other types that appear to have a greenish, pink or more yellow glow. We use these small colour differences in the sheets of gold leaf to perfectly match each frame to the work of art. Obviously the gilding technique can also be used to apply other materials, such as silver, palladium, platinum, aluminium or copper.
The possibilities in terms of colours and combinations are almost infinite. Together we look at what appeals to you most and best suits your object.
HOW WE WORK
- When gilding a frame, we begin by applying several layers of chalk and a fine pipe clay. These layers play a key role in determining the final character of the frame.
- Then we attach the wafer-thin gold leaf to the frame with extreme precision, sheet by sheet.
- The gold is moulded to the surface using a mixture of water and alcohol, a steady hand and a squirrel hair brush. Our goal is to achieve nothing less than perfection! Traditionally, we mainly use the water gilding technique and the oil-based ‘mixtion’ technique. We can burnish the latter form of gilding to a beautiful, deep and bright gloss, the other form remains matte.
- After drying, everything is meticulously polished if desired. That final step gives the object that wonderful deep shine!
Make no mistake; gilding is a process that often takes days, or even weeks or months in the case of large projects. The different steps are repeated and multiple layers are built up on the object. We work with the best materials in accordance with age-old techniques. This is the only way to achieve a high-quality final result.
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Click on the images to enlarge them and to learn more about the process.
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