266 GILDING. 



To write on Paper with Letters of Gold. 



Put some gum arable into common writing ink, 

 and write with it in the usual way. When the 

 writing is dry, breathe on it ; the warmth and 

 moisture softens the gum, and will cause it to 

 fasten on the gold leaf, which may be laid on in 

 the usual way, and the superfluous part brushed 

 off. Or instead of this, any japanners* size may be 

 used. 



To lay Gold upon White Earthen-Ware, or Glass. 



Procure some japanners' gold size, and with it 

 cjraw your design upon the vessel to be gilt, moist- 

 ening the gold sizej as you find necessary, with oil 

 of turpentine. Set your work in a clean place to 

 dry, for about an hour, and then place it so near 

 the fire that you could but just bear the heat of it 

 with your hand for a few seconds. Let it remain 

 there till it feels quite tacky or clammy, then, 

 having procured a cushion, and some leaf gold, cut 

 it into slips of the proper size, and lay it on with a- 

 little cotton wool. When the gold is all on, put 

 the ware into an oven to be baked for two or three 

 hours. 



Glasses, &c. may also be gilt by drawing the 

 figures with shell gold mixed with gum arabic and 

 a little borax. Then apply sufficient heat to it 

 and, lastly, burnish it. 



Gilding on Glass or Porcelain^ by Burning-in. 



Dissolve gold in aqua regia, and evaporate the 

 acid by heat j a gold powder will be obtained j or 



