Gilding Techniques

Location: Villa Palmerino, La Colonica, Via del Palmerino 6, Florence
Language: English and Italian

Course Description:
Course participants follow and participate in the step by step process of water gilding with 22 karat 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, dutch metal leaf, and decorative techniques involving the finishing, oxidizing, toning and antiquing of gilded surfaces. Decorative technqies for gilded finishes such as punchwork (bulinatura) and sgraffito are also explored. 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:
(Samples will be created on wooden molding, panels, frames or trays.)
• 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.