Gold Leaf, Gilding & How To Create Antique Or Distressed Finishes 

This website is all about gilding using imitation gold leaf. also known as Dutch Metal Leaf. It will show you all the steps involved in this simple method of gilding and how to achieve a variety of antique and distressed finishes to the leaf.

Of course you can use 23 carat gold leaf, it has to be handled in exactly the same way, and all the process's we talk of here are applicable to 23 carat gold leaf.

But there are advantages to using imitation gold leaf. As well as being much cheaper than real gold leaf, it is a little thicker and so is easier to handle, and this makes a big difference if you are considering gilding for the first time.

All the finishes we are going to look at change the appearance of the leaf, subtly so that you cannot tell genuine gold leaf from imitation gold leaf.

Below are two examples of gilded wood both with a crackle glaze and an antique glaze added to them. One was gilded with 23 carat gold leaf, the other with imitation gold leaf. As you can see their is no discernable difference between the two.

If you are a beginner, don't worry, the antique finishes and glazes we will talk about are simple to prepare and apply. If you enjoy tinkering you will like what we get up to here.

We will also look at ways to create distressed painted furniture to get the shabby chic look.

If you are new to gilding I suggest you follow the link I give at the bottom of each page, In this way you will get to know the names of the various materials used and gain some insight into how to prepare the various antique and distressed finishes.

There is a fully illustrated step by step manual available from the download page which will show you how to achieve all the antique and distressed finishes shown in these pages.

Should you decide you would like to venture further and embark on your own gilding project there are a range of gilding kits available together with all the materials needed to carry out the finishes.

Ok, first of all lets have a look at this golden leaf.