Gilding has been used for its ornamental quality outdoors for centuries - from signage to the domes of capitol buildings - and can hold back the elements for decades. So why not give a flea market find such as these vintage lily pad tables a little bit of glamour with the addition of some silver leaf?

In addition, with three holes drilled into its base on an angle, a gold-leafed finial can be converted into a elegant tripod on which to grow morning glories or be affixed to a copper pipe to create a playful and (easy to see) hose guide. Once the art of gilding is mastered, one may even decide to go for the impossible and gild a lily - or at least the seedhead of a lotus.

Any surface can accept leaf if it is nonporous, but surface preparation is important because irregularities will transfer through the leaf. With silver or composite leaf such as aluminum, it is best to clear coat the final product to prevent tarnish. Practice on a spare surface before starting in order to get a sense of the process.

Materials:

High gloss spray paint
Silver patent leaf or gold patent leaf (leaf is attached to sheets of rouge paper)
Quick Size (varnish to adhere the leaf)
Clear polyurethane (for silver leaf or composite leaf)

Tools:

Squirrel-hair brush
Fine sandpaper

Directions:

Make surface smooth by sanding lightly with very fine sandpaper. Apply automotive or high-gloss spray paint to seal the surface and make it glossy. After prepping surface, avoid handling painted surface so as not transfer oil from hands to surface.

Select a cool, shady, draft-free location to do the gilding. Using a soft brush such as a squirrel-haired artist's brush, lay a thin, even layer of Quick Size on surface to be gilt. Make sure the there are no gaps or pools.

After about 20 to 30 minutes, check the tack by pressing the back of knuckle to surface. Tack time will vary depending on weather conditions; humidity will slow the process down. It should not feel sticky when knuckle is pulled away but there should be a slight pull accompanied by a faint click sound: this is known as the tack. If surface is too wet, it will penetrate leaf. If it is too dry, leaf will not stick.

Begin leafing when the surface has come to tack. Remove one piece of the leaf with paper attached. Press it lightly but firmly onto surface. Avoid touching areas yet to be leafed. Remove the paper with care: fingerprints show through gold leaf. Lay down the next piece of leaf slightly overlapping the edge the first one. Complete this process until the piece is covered in leaf. On flat surfaces, entire sheets of leaf can be used. For convex or concave areas, tear leaf (with paper attached) into small pieces; leaf does not cut well scissors.

Additional layers may be added after the gild has been allowed to set. Clear coat silver leaf to prevent tarnishing. Although tarnish is not an issue for gold leaf, clear coat will help protect the surface from wear and tear, such as on these table tops.

Special Thanks:
The Gilded Planet
http://www.gildedplanet.com

Beverly Ferguson
artist@silvergrove.com