Gilding Techniques

Dates: see calendar
Times: Day 1: 9:00-13.00, and 14:00-17:00
           Day 2: 9:00-13.00, and 14:00-17:00
Hours: 14 ore
Location: Villa Palmerino, La Colonica, Via del Palmerino 6, Florence
Language: English and Italian
Cost: €488

Course Description:
Course participants follow and participate in the step by step process of water gilding with 22 karat leaf, dutch metal leaf, and silver leaf. Participants learn how to use traditional gilding tools to cut, apply and burnish gold leaf.The course also covers the use of gold size, and decorative techniques involving the finishing, oxidizing, toning and antiquing of gilded surfaces.The courses take place at the villa Palmerino where students can observe the collection of antique frames and learn from their surroundings as well as from the teaching. Project pieces to take home are small wooden panels, moldings, frames, and/ or trays. Please consult the materials list to pre-order your brushes and materials.

Course Objectives:
• become familiar with the materials and methods of gilding through hands on experience with guidance of an expert
• learn the basics of traditional water gilding the historically correct Florentine way
• save yourself many hours of experimentation by studying with an expert on gilding and restoration.
• see examples of decoration techniques for leafed surfaces
• add to your historical knowledge by observing and understanding characteristics of various antique frames at the villa
• explore finishes and antiquing methods for gilded surfaces


Projects completed:
(Samples will be created on wooden molding, panels frames or trays: (pre-order your wooden objects)
• 1 or more samples of a gilded frame or tray
• 1 or more samples each of panels and moldings 
 

Pictures:
Various examples of course work.