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Simply put, the color under the leaf can effect the final appearance of your gilt surface. Just one more tool we use to create unique and original surfaces with genuine and metal leaf.
Traditionally, bole was made from clay. A Finely ground clay, when mixed with the correct proportions of animal hide glue will create an ideal base for the application of Genuine Gold leaf. Genuine clay Bole is an ideal substrate for use with an Agate Burnishing tool to create the mirror shine that so deFines the Traditional Water Gilt surface. True clay bole is typically used in Traditional Water Gilding appplications like Icons, furniuture, frames and objects. Today paint is typically used as a substitute for clay.
Gilder’s burnish clay or clay bole is an essential part of the traditional water gilding system with gold and silver leaf. Brushed in multiple thin coats over a primed or gesso surface, burnish clay is what allows water gilded gold or silver to be polished to a mirror gloss finish.
Learn more about mixing hide glues with clay and making gesso.
Colors shown below are traditional bole colors, and represent the true clay bole colors we offer as our 'pre-mixed Kohlner Instaclay colors'.
For use with both latex and oil based paints. We recommend an Eggshell sheen finish. The above referenced color numbers are based on Benjamin Moore paint swatches that we've closly matched to true clay bole color tones. Alternatively, you can take these color numbers and have them color matched at your local paint supply, including Sherwin Williams, Behr, Dulux, Pittsburgh, Pratt and Lambert and many more. Your local store will have the codes to match these colors below.
Using different colors of Bole under your gilding.
One can experiment with different colors and your choice will affect the overall appearance of the finished product. For example, the traditional terra-cotta color adds warmth to both gold and Silver leaf. A black 'bole' color creates a hard, cold look - often appropriate for Art Deco or Neoclassical pieces, and the like. A yellow 'bole' color, when used with Genuine or Imitation Gold, evens out the overall appearance and diminishes any cracks or 'holidays' on the gilded surface.
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 a heavier gram weight per 1000 leaves than standard gold at the same karat level.
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.Material | Size | Quantity | Coverage |
---|---|---|---|
Gold Leaf Pack | 3 3/8" x 3 3/8" | 500 leaves | 39.5 sqft. |
Gold Leaf Book | 3 3/8" x 3 3/8" | 25 leaves | 1.98 sqft. |
Metal Leaf Pack | 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" | 500 leaves | 100 sqft. |
Metal Leaf Book | 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" | 25 leaves | 5 sqft |
Gold Leaf Master Roll | 4 1/8" x 69 ft. | Master Roll | 23.5 sqft. |
Silver Leaf Master Roll | 5 3/4" x 82 ft. | Master Roll | 39 sqft. |
Metal Leaf Roll 5 meter | 6 1/4" sq. x 15 ft. | Master Roll | 3 sqft. |
Metal Leaf Roll 50 meter | 6 1/4" x 164 ft | Master Roll | 82 sqft. |
Metal Leaf Roll 75 meter | 6 1/4" x 246 ft. | Master Roll | 123 sqft. |
Measurements are calculated without consideration for waste or overlap.