Gild a mirror or picture frame

Gilding is a good way to add a touch of vintage glamour to a plain frame or restore an old one

The practice dates back to Ancient Egypt and involves applying a thin layer of gold leaf to a solid surface. It’s not a difficult technique to master but it can be fiddly – so it’s best to practise on a small cheap frame first.

Before you start, protect your work area by ensuring doors and windows are closed – a slight breeze can easily blow your delicate gold leaf away.

You will need

• A frame
• Fine sandpaper or surgical spirit (depending on your frame)
• Coloured primer or ‘bole’
• Foam paintbrush
• Water-based gold-leafing adhesive or ‘size’
• Gold leaf
• Soft gilding tip brush (optional)
• Gilding mop brush or large fluffy make-up brush

1 Remove the mirror or glass from the frame

If it’s not easy to remove, then carefully apply masking tape around the edges of the glass where it meets the frame. A wooden frame should be lightly sanded then wiped clean, while a plastic or metal one should be wiped with surgical spirit.

2 Apply the bole

Once clean and dry, apply a layer of a coloured primer, usually called ‘bole’. The most popular colours of bole for gold leafing are a warm red for a glowing, burnished finish, yellow for a bright gold or black for a contemporary look. Paint the bole on with a small foam paintbrush in even strokes and let it dry completely.

3 Paint on the size

Gold-leafing adhesive is called ‘size’. Water-based size is generally best for beginners, as it dries to a tacky finish faster than oil-based size. When the size is tacky but not completely dried (it should look clear instead of milky), you can start to apply the gold leaf.

4 Add the gold leaf

Use your fingers or a soft gilding tip brush to remove the gold from the packet. Lay the leaf on to the top edge of the frame and burnish with a gilding mop brush (or a large fluffy make-up brush), smoothing it over the frame, wiping away any creases or air bubbles, and gently pressing it into any crevasses or nooks. Continue to place squares of gold leaf, slightly overlapping each piece for complete coverage, and repeat the burnishing process, brushing away crumbs of gold leaf as you go.

4 Smooth with a brush

Finish by rubbing the brush in gentle circles over the gold leaf, smoothing away any last wrinkles or air bubbles, and filling any little holes with pieces of gold. A final burnish of the entire frame to ensure all the gold is smooth and shiny completes your gilded frame.

Sourcebook

• Gilding materials AS Handover has a great selection of gold leaf, size and brushes. For the look of traditional gilding without the fuss, try Guild Lane Gild, a beautiful range of acrylic and oil-based paints.
• Frames and mirrors Flea markets, vintage fairs, reclamation yards and antique shops are the best places to pick up interesting frames that need a new lease of life.

WORDS: LINDSEY HARRAD