Gilding & Restoration
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Gum Ammoniac
Starting at: £18.60
Gum Ammoniac is a natural tree sap. It is commonly used as an adhesive for gilding in calligraphy, as it allows for fine detailing and precise strokes.
To make your own gilding size, cover a few lumps of gum in water and leave to soak overnight. Large pieces can be broken easily, so as to be fully covered by the water. In the morning, stir the resultant milky liquid, and strain. As the size hardens quickly, it is important to wash any nibs or brushes thoroughly and frequently to preserve their condition.
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Clear Dewaxed Shellac
Starting at: £9.20
Shellac is a natural resin that is deposited by the female lac insect on the branches of trees in India and Thailand. It is soluble with alcohol, but not with mineral spirits or turpentine. It forms a tough yet flexible film, with many applications. It is suitable as a top coat for gilding when applied thinly, a sealant for porous surfaces, an isolating layer for tempera paintings, a base for pigmented inks, a protective layer for collograph plates, and a warm varnish for wooden floors and furniture. As it is prone to darkening with age, it is not recommended as a varnish for oils, and its solubility can reduce over time. There are various grades of shellac. When mixed with alcohol, it may initially form a cloudy mixture, due to traces of wax in the shellac, but this should become clear once it has dried. The highest grades of shellac are Clear Dewaxed Shellac, which has been de-coloured using the carbon filtering method, Lemon Shellac, and Orange Shellac, which are pale in colour. Button Shellac is less refined and therefore produces a reddish varnish. It was, in fact, widely used as a red dye before synthetic dyes became available. Learn More -
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Cornelissen Ox Flat Lacquer
Starting at: £12.50
Soft but springy hair. For varnishing or lacquering. Also useful for watercolour washes. Learn More -
Cornelissen Squirrel Mop
Starting at: £14.20
Traditional high quality soft hair mops with considerable colour carrying capacity. Useful for laying down large washes. Also used by gilders for tamping down gold leaf and for dusting. Learn More -
Shepherds Paste Brush
Starting at: £7.80
Soft round domed hog hair. Bound with string instead of metal ferrule (will not rust). Suitable for application of pastes for bookbinding and laying down of gesso. Learn More -
Cornelissen Squirrel Flat Lacquer
Starting at: £15.00
Extra soft brush for varnishing or lacquering. Also useful for watercolour washes. Learn More -
Roberson Liquid Metal Brush
Starting at: £12.00
A high quality multi-purpose golden synthetic fibre brush with plain wood handle and rustproof steel ferrule. This brush was originally developed for use in our testing laboratory and has been specifically designed for use with the Roberson Liquid metal range. The micro fine synthetic bristles ensure a high class smooth finish not available with normal acrylic brushes. It is also excellent for applying both acrylic and solvent based varnishes. Learn More -
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Green Felt Burnisher Pockets
Starting at: £2.40
Green Felt Burnisher Pockets (Please note, our short felt pockets only fit burnishers that are labelled as short handled. All other burnishers will fit in the long felt pockets) Learn More
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