Single Gilding Versus Double Gilding

Double Gilding

An object that is double gilded has two layers of gold leaf laid, one atop of the other. This is normally done with the traditional water gilding method and imparts a very deep, golden tone that is generally free from defects in the gilding. Water gilded leaf has a satin tone in its natural state; burnishing the gold or silver leaf brings the metal to a brilliant lustre.

When water gilded leaf is left satin, it's left un-burnished. This means that the leaf not only has a satin tone but is also not compressed into the clay bole that is applied to the underlying gesso such as a gilded picture frame furniture, or other wooden object and therefore bonding of the gold leaf to the surface is somewhat more vulnerable to wear. It has historically always been this way and old water gilded frames and furniture that have unburnished satin areas will likely show more wear than their burnished counterparts. Therefore, I often use additional 10@ RSG (rabbit skin glue) or gelatin in the gilding water for unburnished areas to aid in adhesion. I also sometimes sometimes apply a 5:1 10% Glue to Water wash over the satin leaf for added protection.

Spot and Single Gilding

Single layer water gilding sometimes results in some anomalies ('spots' exposing underlying clay bole from trapped air bubbles or breaks in the leaf) during the process of gilding, many of which can be covered during spot gilding, although if done excessively the result can be somewhat unsightly due to ghost images of these small sections of leaf applied over existing gilded leaf. Double gilding covers all the anomalies that single gilding sometimes leaves behind and is useful when gilding satin areas. It offers a very solid layer of gold leaf.

There are times, though, that the somewhat translucent quality of single water gilding is preferred when developing a satin section, especially when other areas of the water gilded object are rubbed, abraded, or distressed. As an example, a picture frame that is antiqued to some degree can be a little jarring if the sides are a strong solid double gild. It is often aesthetically best if the overall appearance of the gilding presents a sympathetic quality between each of the gilded sections, where no one area is dramatically different in its condition.

The technique of Double Gilding is demonstrated in the Water Gilding for Panels Online gilding class which is discussed on the website page for Gilding Class Information.