Advanced Gilding Course - Florence, Italy

A note for search engine users: another term for gilding is gold leafing. Guilding is a misspelled version of the same word, it is common but incorrect.

Advanced Gilding and Restoration
5 day workshop in Florence, Italy

Courses list | Schedule & fees | How to register | About the teachers | Accommodation

burnishing Description:
Course participants further their knowledge of the techniques of water gilding, the application of silver and real gold leaf. Students who wish to enrol in this course should have taken the introductory course, or have some previous experience with water gilding. We offer the option of a custom frame choice, for students who wish to take home something special. Please contact us well ahead of time if you wish to have a frame made for you. The courses take place within a large well-lit artisan studio school in the artisan district of Florence, where students can observe and learn from their surroundings as well as from the teaching. See our work spaces.

Students of the advanced course take home one small gilded frame and a small carved ornament in 24k leaf, plus sample panels with examples of decorative techniques with real gold and silver leaf, all made during the course.

Projects per student:
1 small frame gilded with 24k gold leaf
1 small carved ornament gilded with 24k gold leaf
silver and gold leafed sample panels and cornices demonstrating different effects.
*Please note that projects pieces may vary slightly

Example projects:

A small but complex frame water gilded with 24K gold.

Example of the graffito technique.

Example of bulinatura decoration.

Samples of the pastiglia techniques.

Antiquing techniques using oxidation.

For Introductory Gilding course click here.

Schedule:

Monday 1	Tuesday 2	Wednesday 3	Thursday 4	Friday 5
intro to advanced gilding	make gesso, bole	apply bole to sample panels and ornaments	gilding sample panels and ornaments	work on finishing projects
set rabbit skin and fish glues to soak	apply gesso to sample panels and ornaments	silver leaf sample cornices	techniques for oxiding and decorating on silver leaf	burnishing techniques on sample panels and ornaments
sand pre-prepared frames	apply bole sample cornices	burnishing frames	gild sample panels and ornaments	antiquing waxes and patinas
apply bole to pre-prepared frames	water gilding on frames		special lacquer for the decorative graffito technique
apply gesso to sample cornices

Times: Monday through Friday from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
For dates and prices for the current year see course schedule

For more information and registration please write to
In North America call or fax our toll free number:
1 800 420 5531 (voice mail only)
or see the contact us page

Please keep in mind that August is a traditional summer break in Italy. Most schools, artisan workshops, businesses, etc. are closed, therefore courses and the Artisan Quarter tour may not be available during that month. Check Italian public holidays before you plan your trip.