Gold Leaf Products There are a lot of people out there who do not know about the various gold leaf products being sold in the market. A gold leaf is nothing but a very thin layer of the metal that is used by craftsmen to apply over various items to make it more aesthetically appealing. It is often used over sculptures, picture frames and various other objects. The gold leaf is highly fragile and can easily break in unskilled hands. It demands a high level of skill, patience and is labor intensive. This is the reason that gold leaf products are higher priced than others. Of course the inherent value of the metal also makes gold leaf price high. The gold leaf price is also dependant on the market value of gold, which as we all know constantly fluctuates.
A Brief History Gold leaf has been in use for thousands of years. The Egyptians too used it in their pyramids and also on burial tombs. A lot of empires such as that of the Romans also decorated their buildings with it. Asian countries such as Japan and China manufactured this delicate gold and these were very popular.
Why are gold leaf products so Popular? Gold has always been a symbol of power, health and success. It is a symbol of the sun and vitality. Moreover the inherent value of the metal gives the impression that whosoever owns such products is very rich and belongs to the upper strata of society. Another reason for its popularity is that it increases the aesthetic value of whatever it is placed on.
What are the gilding supplies Required? It is the art form of gilding that covers an object with gold, which may be in the form of a leaf or a gel. There was a time when a majority of gilding was limited to vases, but slowly this started being applied to a variety of other things such as furniture, pens, and ornaments and even on edible items.
There are various types of gilding supplies that are needed for completing different types of work. The tools used for gilding is dependent on where it is needed; whether the requirement is for the exterior or the interiors, what type of material will it be applied to:
1. Agate stone tools are very important. It is this tool that presses the leaf into place. The smooth surface of agate stone makes it convenient for the craftsman to polish any item evenly without wrinkles. 2. Gilding knife is necessary to cut the gold leaf into required sizes and shapes. The edge of the knife is not very sharp, but if touched by hand will need to be cleaned with alcohol. 3. Cushion is the surface on which the leaf is placed on for cutting and shaping. 4. Gilder’s tip is a flat shaped brush that lifts the leaf gently and places it on the surface to be decorated. 5. Burnisher is a tool which as the names suggests polishes the surface to bring a bright shine to gold leaf products.