Gold Leaf

In the 18th century, making gold leaf was a laborious process that required a great deal of skill and precision. Gold was hammered into thin sheets and then cut into small squares. The gold sheets were then placed in a special furnace and heated until they were malleable. Once the gold was hot enough, it was pounded with a hammer and then rubbed with a special cloth to make it even thinner. The gold was then placed in a container of water and left to cool. After cooling, the gold was then cut into small squares and placed between two sheets of paper. This process was repeated until the desired thickness of gold leaf was achieved. The gold leaf was then ready to be used in artwork or decoration.

See: Water Gilding