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Product
information
Leaf Size:
Gold leaf is 3
3/8 x 3 3/8
inches square
(85 mm x 85 mm)
and is sold in
units called
packs,
containing 500
leaves. A pack
is divided into
20 books with
each book
containing 25
leaves.
Leaf size Chart!
For more
information on
leaf sizes visit
Gilding Basics.
Leaf coverage
A book contains
25 leaves, a
pack contains 20
books, equaling
500 leaves. Each
pack of 500
leaves covers a
surface area of
39.50 sq.ft.
without waste or
overlap. The
gilder can
determine the
percentage of
waste based on
the complexity
of the object
and his or her
own expertise in
laying leaf. If
for example, the
surface is very
ornate with deep
crevices, it
will require
more leaf than
the same size
area of a flat
surface.
For more
information on
leaf coverage
visit
Gilding Basics.
Karats and
Alloys
Gold is alloyed
with Silver,
Copper and other
metals to
achieve a
variety of
colors and
shades. A higher
gold content
and/or greater
amount of copper
will result in
deeper tones of
leaf. The higher
karat leaves are
also more
durable due to
the higher gold
content. In the
lower karats of
leaf, such as
18kt, 16kt, and
12kt, gold is
alloyed with
silver or other
metals to
achieve lighter
colors.
Types of leaf
Regular Gold
This term refers
to the average
thickness which
a manufacturer
has deemed as
the standard for
gold leaf. This
standard may
vary from one
manufacturer to
another. One
gold beater's
regular may be
thinner than the
regular leaf of
another brand.
Surface Gold
Surface gold
leaf may have a
few
irregularities
and is often
used where
double gilding
is required or
the leaf will be
distressed or
toned.
Loose Gold
A book of loose
gold leaf is
assembled by
placing each
piece of gold
leaf between
pieces of thin
rouged paper.
The gilder can
then remove one
leaf at a time
without
disturbing the
remaining
leaves. It is
removed from the
book with a
gilder's tip, a
flat natural
hair brush.
Glass Gold
This term
applies to gold
leaf which is
selected for
it's higher
quality having
fewer pinholes
and
irregularities.
Double Gold
Double gold does
not mean that
the leaf is two
times thicker
than regular
leaf. Double
leaf may be only
10% to 20%
thicker than
regular gold
leaf. Double
means that it is
heavier than
regular.
Patent Gold
Patent gold
leaf, also
referred to as
transfer leaf,
is gold leaf
mounted to
special tissue
paper by a
pressure
process. A book
of patent gold
leaf is
assembled by
placing each
unit of gold
leaf and tissue
paper between
pieces of thin
rouged paper.
The gilder can
then remove one
leaf at a time
without
disturbing the
remaining
leaves.
Patent leaf is
removed from the
book without the
aid of a
gilder's tip.
The leaf will
stay on the
tissue until it
is pressed onto
the prepared
surface and the
tissue backing
is removed. This
form of gold
leaf is
necessary for
outdoor work or
where conditions
would make loose
leaf
unmanageable.
Patent gold leaf
is not suitable
for water
gilding and is
best suited for
flat surfaces.
Patent gold leaf
is sensitive to
changes in
temperature and
humidity and
needs to be
stored properly.
Store patent
leaf in a damp
environment of
about 80%
humidity wrapped
in plastic wrap.
This helps to
prevent the
moisture content
of the tissue
paper from
fluctuating.
Patent leaf may
become loose on
the tissue paper
if stored in a
dry warm
environment. To
correct this
problem, the
book of patent
leaf needs to be
stored in a
humid
environment
under pressure
to 'remount' the
leaf to the
paper. If the
leaf was stored
in a very hot
and humid
environment, the
leaf may adhere
too tightly to
the paper. To
correct this
problem, store
patent the
patent leaf in a
refrigerator or
a dry cool
place.
Gilded Building
details made
from wood,
stone,
fiberglass and
metal take on
the dynamic
qualities of
gold - its
luster and
color. The
correct
selection of
gold leaf, its
gold content and
thickness, will
ensure a long
lasting gilded
ornament.
Gold Content
Gold leaf is
manufactured in
a wide range of
colors and
karats. Leaf
made from 100%
gold is 24kt. To
produce a wide
variety of
colors, copper
and silver is
mixed with gold.
When copper is
added, the leaf
becomes warmer
and richer in
tone. When
silver is added,
the leaf becomes
paler in tone.
The addition of
these other
metals lowers
the karat value
of gold leaf.
Gold leaf is
manufactured in
a range from
9kt "White"
to
24kt "Fine Gold".
Gold is
completely
resistant to
corrosion. The
addition of
silver and
copper lowers
the resistance
of gold leaf to
corrosion.
However, the
copper or silver
in
23.75kt or
23kt leaf is
so low that it
will maintain
its integrity
outdoors for 30
years or more. A
dome, building
detail, metal
fence or outdoor
statue will
require a 23kt
to 23.75kt leaf
that ranges from
96% to 98.5% in
purity. Karats
less than 23 are
recommended for
indoor use and
many colors and
karats are
available.
More about
Exterior Gilding
Leaf Thickness
and Weight
Leaf
thickness is
best described
as grams per
1,000 leaves.
This measurement
is used to
compare one
variety with
another. The
approximate
weight of leaf
for an outdoor
surface is 18 to
23 grams per
1,000 leaves.
The heavier the
leaf, the longer
it will repel
the abrasive
effects of snow,
rain, wind, dust
and sand
particles.
When
selecting gold
leaf for an
exterior
architectural
project, look
first for the
gold content and
gram weight. A
23kt to 23.75kt
gold leaf
weighing 18 to
23 grams/1000
leaves properly
applied will
shine for
decades.
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