GILDING. 265 



designed to be burnished are polished with a dog's 

 tooth, or, what is better, with an agate burnisher. 

 The gilding must not be quite dry when it is bur- 

 nished; there is a state proper for the purpose, 

 which is only to be known by experience. 



Japanners 9 Gilding. 



The gilding of japanned work consists in draw- 

 ing with a hair pencil, in gold size, the intended 

 ornaments, and afterwards applying gold leaf or 

 gold powder. 



The gold size may be prepared in the following 

 manner: take of linseed-oil, and of gum animi, 

 four ounces. Set the oil to boil in a proper vessel, 

 and then add the gum animi gradually in powder, 

 stirring each quantity about in the oil, till it appear 

 to be dissolved, and then putting in another, till 

 the whole be mixed with the oil. Let the mixture 

 continue to boil, till, on taking a small quantity 

 out, it appear of a thicker consistence than tar, and 

 then strain the whole through a coarse cloth, and 

 keep it for use ; but it must, when applied, be 

 mixed with vermilion and oil of turpentine. 



Having laid on the gold size, and suffered it to 

 dry, the gold leaf is applied in the usual way, or if 

 it is not wanted to shine so much, gold powder is 

 applied, which is made by grinding gold leaf upon 

 a stone with honey, and afterwards washing the 

 honey away with water. If the gilding is to be 

 varnished over, Dutch gold may be used, or aurum 

 musivum may be used instead of real gold powder. 



