GILDING. 261 



the ingredients in this manner, stirring them well 

 with a spatula, that they may be thoroughly mixed 

 together, and be prevented also from sticking to 

 the bottom of the pot. When they are perfectly 

 melted and mixed, and gradually to them seven 

 pints of linseed oil, and stir the whole well 

 together with the spatula. Make the whole boil, 

 stirring it all the time to prevent a kind of sediment 

 that will form, from sticking to the bottom of the 

 vessel. When the varnish is almost sufficiently 

 boiled, add gradually half an ounce of litharge, or 

 half an ounce of red-lead, and when they are dis- 

 solved, pass the varnish through a linen cloth, or 

 flannel bag. 



The time of boiling this varnish should be about 

 seven or eight hours. This, however, varies, ac- 

 cording to circumstances. The way of knowing 

 when it is sufficiently boiled, is by taking a little on 

 some instrument, and if it draws out and is ropy, 

 and sticks to the fingers, drying on them, it is 

 done ; but if not, it must be boiled till it acquires 

 these qualities. 



GILDING. 



Gilding is the application of gold to the surfaces 

 of bodies : it is of two principal kinds, according 

 to the method of applying the gold. 



Wood, leather, paper, and similar substances, 

 are gilt by fastening on leaves of gold by means of 

 some cement. But metals are gilt by a chemical 

 application of the gold to the surface. This last 

 is called water gilding. 



The gilding of wood, and similar substances, is 



of three kinds ; oil gilding, burnished gilding, and 



japanners* gilding, which we shall severally describe, 



s 3 



