THE BEADING GEM'S JOURNAL



How Gold Leaf is Made  More Recent Articles  Search The Beading Gem's Journal How Gold Leaf is Made I've often considered gilding beads and brass stamping with real gold leaf.  Solid gold anything is way too expensive for most of us.  The tissue paper thin gold leaf is remarkable and how they make it is even more so.  Goldbeating - pounding thin gold bars or ribbon -  was discovered by the Ancient Egyptians 5000 years ago. They were the first to appreciate the durability and malleability of the precious metal. Except for some mechanization, the basic technique and tools have hardl changed since ancient times. Pounding the gold for hours and hours is still done by hand in some parts of the world. Mandalay in Myanmar (Burma) is famous for the production of gold leaf.  This short travel video shows the craft. The presenter is not quite right. 24K (pure) gold is not used for the making of gold leaf. It is actually more like 23 K because small amounts of silver and copper are added. Pure gold is too soft and would stick to itself. Picture source   This delightful British Pathé film (1959) shows the whole process from the casting to the final gold leaf.   The hammering machines help.  There were still skilled people back then in the UK who did it by hand because they could get the gold leaf more uniformly thin.  Imagine years of apprenticeship just to learn how to beat gold by hand!! Gold leaf is usually lifted using chopsticks and cut with sharp bamboo! And a hare's foot instead of the more usual brushes for smoothing down the gold leaf. The material used in between the gold is critical for goldbeating.  In the British film, they use vellum made from ox intestines!   The Japanese take gold leaf production to a high level of craftsmanship indeed. A very laborious affair.  They take great care in the making of the special washi paper used in between the gold.  The quality of the interlining or pounding glossy paper affects the finish of the gold leaf. Handling gold leaf is so tricky.  This lady neatly blows on the gold leaf or taps it with her chopstick to make it smooth out instantly on the paper!   Now you know why gold leaf is so expensive considering the small amount of gold involved! Before You Go: Gold Fever - Klondike Gold Rush The Man Who Tried to Extract Gold from Seawater An Imperfect Egyptian Cartouche ______________________________ Original Post by THE BEADING GEM Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips           Share Your Comment! Share Your Comment! Related Posts How an Amazing Medieval Arcade Gem Setting is Made! Watch Indian Jewelers Craft Traditional Enameled Earrings with Kundan Set Diamonds Spectacular Egyptian Beaded Collar Necklace Tutorial   • Email to a friend • View comments • Track comments • More Recent Articles Diagonally Patterned Native American Style Beaded Earrings Tutorial Metal Clay Class Fun! All in One Wire Rosette Earrings Tutorial Fun Beads and Crystal Peyote Ring Tutorial to Try! Bead and Metal Work Jewelry by Claudia Fajardo Winners of Yoola Design's Wire ISK Kit and Tutorial Giveaway Book Review and Giveaway : Origami Jewelry Motifs   Contact Me • Past Issues • Join This List • Unsubscribe     Click here to safely unsubscribe from "The Beading Gem's Journal." Click here to view mailing archives, here to change your preferences, or here to subscribe • Privacy Email subscriptions powered by FeedBlitz, LLC, 365 Boston Post Rd, Suite 123, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA.