gilding Continues

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Silver leafing

After stripping paint, it was discovered that the backs of the curved shields were done with silver, with a tinted varnish or shellac in order to simulate gold. This was common practice - the labor was inexpensive compared to the materials, and it was more economical to do this on areas that did not show. Nowadays, the extra steps with attendant labor costs reduces this differential. But since it was done this way originally, I followed suit. There were some other parts of this chandelier that were also done with the silver, but they were so minor that it was just as cost effective to used gold.

 

 

Spiders base coated

 

Spiders gilded

Metal "spiders" were oil gilded (the round section of the largest was gessoed/water gilded).

 

Sockets Gilded

The sockets and bobeches were gessoed/water gilt on the columns, and the remainder oil gilt.

 

 

The central wooden "Star" support was water gilded.

 

Star support gilded

 

 

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Last Update:May 31, 2020