RERAMIC STUDIO 
LIQUID BRIGHT GOLD. 
[reprinted] 
Emily F. Peacock. 
Dissolve I drachm of gold in f ounce of aqua regia. 
Add 6 grains of metallic tin, using more aqua regia if re- 
quired to dissolve it. Pour with constant stirring into a 
mixture of ^ drachm of balsam of sulphur and 20 drachms 
of oil of turpentine; as it stiffens, add ^ drachm of oil of 
turpentine and mix well. More gold gives brighter effect, 
and more tin a violet tinge. Balsam of sulphur is made 
by boiUng together in a covered vessel i part flowers of sul- 
phur and 4. parts oil of lavender until the mass thickens. 
000 
BURNISH GOLD AND SILVER. 
H. C. ter Meer. 
It is not as difficult to prepare burnish gold and silver 
for use for china decoration as is generally supposed, the 
preparation of burnish silver being especially simple In car- 
rying out this work, cleanliness and care in handling the 
chemicals must be observed, as the acids are caustic and 
produce stains. The gold and silver solutions produce 
stains and silver nitrate is also caustic. Only chemically 
pure chemicals and distilled water should be used. 
BURNISH GOI.D NO. I. 
In order to prepare this gold powder, three penny- 
weights of pure gold are dissolved in one ounce of aqua 
regia, obtained by mixing equal volumes of hydrochloric 
and nitric acids. When the gold has dissolved completely, 
evaporate the solution to dryness on a water bath.*, and 
dissolve the residue (auric chlorid) in 28 ounces of water. 
Then filter the solution. 
If it is desired to save time and to avoid the handling 
of nitric acid, 120 grains of c. p. gold chloride (as employed 
in photography) are dissolved in the above quantity of 
water. 
Pour the filtered solution into a clean 3 2 -ounce jar, 
preferably a precipitation jar and add small quantities at 
a time of a solution composed of: Water, 3-I- ounces; fer- 
rous sulphate, ^ ounce; sulphuric acid, three drops; until 
no further precipitate is produced. After every addition, 
stir the solution thoroughly with a glass rod. When all 
the gold is precipitated, allow it to settle, decant the clear 
liquid and digestf the powder for about eight minutes 
with hydrochloric acid. Then wash the powder six times, 
by adding water, stirring, allowing the gold to settle and 
decanting the clear water. Finally, decant as much as pos- 
sible of the last wash water and wash the powder into 
shallow dish, evaporate the water and dry. After drying, 
rub the gold powder through fine silk gauze (bolting cloth) 
with the finger. This powder is unfluxed gold, and when 
prepared in this manner is very dense. After mixing with 
the proper quantity of thick oil and turpentine (somewhat 
more thick oil of turpentine should be used than is used 
with powder colors, and the mixture should have the con- 
sistency of Avell prepared tube colors) it is ready for use 
over colors which have already been fired. In order to use 
it over white china, gold flux must be mixed with it. 
Gold flux can be bought of A. Sartorius & Co., New York, 
* A water bath is a metallic vessel, with a cover composed of overlaoping concentric 
rings, which are used to support the vessels to be heated. It is used in the same manner 
and serves the same purpose as a double milk boiler, i. e., it prevents over heating. In this 
case the solution to be evaporated is poured into a porcelain dish, supported on the 
water bath (filled nearly full with water), in such a manner that the bottom of the dish is 
in contact with the water in the bath. The water in the bath is then boiled until all the 
hquid contained in the dish has evaporated, leaving a yellowish crystalline residue. The 
water bath must not be allowed to boil dry as this would ruin it. 
t Digest means to wash the gold powder with hydrochloric acid (literally to soak in 
the acid) in order to remove any iron present. It is accomplished by pouring the acid on 
the powder contained in a suitable vessel and shaking or stirring, the gold is then allowed 
to settle. After the specified time has elapsed the acid is poured off. 
in any quantity, and is so cheap that it does not pay to 
make it. The gold flux is incorporated with the gold pow- 
der when the latter is mixed with the thick oil of turpentine. 
GOLD NO. 2. 
A cheaper grade of gold suitable for large surfaces, 
such as feet, handles, etc., on ordinary work, is prepared 
as fohows: Dissolve ij oimces of metallic mercury in 3I 
ounces of nitric acid. This should be accomplished out of 
doors, or in a good draught of air, near an open window, 
so that the red fumes evolved, which are poisonous, are 
carried away. Then dissolve 3I penny-weights of pure gold 
in a solution composed of nitric acid, 2+ ounces, ammonium 
chloride ^ ounce. 
When the gold and the mercury have dissolved, mix 
the two solutions by pouring the mercury solution slowly 
in small quantities into the gold solution. The gold is 
hereby precipitated in the form of a bulky powder, which 
is washed, dried and sifted, as described aJoove. This gold 
must also be mixed with gold flux, if it is to be applied 
directly to white china. 
BURNISH SILVER. 
In order to prepare burnish silver, proceed as follows: 
Dissolve 480 grains of pure silver nitrate in 32 ounces of 
water and suspend a sheet of bright copper in the solution. 
The silver is precipitated, on the copper, as a loosely coher- 
ent powder, which is shaken oft' the plate from time to 
time. When the precipitation is complete, wash the silver 
powder with boiling water and dry. Finally, after mixing 
the powder with 24 grains, or with i-i2th its weight, of 
bismuth subnitrate and rubbing fine with a muller, on a 
ground glass plate, it is ready for use. 
These gold and silver powders can be preserved in the 
dry state, or they may be rubbed up with a suitable quan- 
tity of fat oil and preserved. The powders are also suitable 
for ' ' dusting on " ; when used for this purpose, gold No. 2 
is recommended, as it is more voluminous than No. i, and 
is consequently cheaper to use. 
The silver preparation in question requires no flux for 
use on white china. The bismuth subnitrate, with which 
the silver is mixed, is the flux. 
000 
First Prize — Anne Seymour Mondy. 
ALMOST the first thing which a pupil wishes to learn 
is — ' ' how to put on gold, ' ' and as this is to be a little talk 
for pupils rather than teachers, we must confine ourselves 
more strictly to its use rather than to its composition — 
except perhaps as to how to select a good and durable gold. 
A $5.00 gold piece is the standard in color and wearing 
qualities — so the best gold for china is one which after 
firing will stand continued washing, a great deal of wrap- 
ping, packing and moving perhaps — and keep its surface 
intact. 
A good gold, however, will not be responsible for rough 
ragged edges or bare thin spots on edges or handles if care- 
lessly manipulated, or more carelessly handled to and from 
the drying oven, or from the class room on the way to the 
kiln. 
For the pupil the first thing to be considered is ' ' what 
is the best gold, ' ' and then ' ' how to use it. ' ' As to what is 
the best gold, where opinions differ it should be left to the 
responsibility of the teacher until observation and experi- 
ence have formed a basis for self judgment as to its merits. 
In this article let us consider first how to use the usual 
Roman gold. [To page no.] 
