Behind the Scenes
Gilded & Gold Leaf Frames
Based in our London workshop, our highly skilled frame gilding and colourist team works with white gold, moon gold and gold leaf to produce a range of exquisite gilding finishes. Whether you require a contemporary or antique gilded frame appearance, our gold, silver and bronze gilded picture frames are all custom-made to your unique specifications.
The traditional gold gilding technique involves the careful and precise application of gold leaf to the frame, using skills that date back to the early Egyptians and Ancient Greeks. Producing a gilded picture frame takes time; it’s a painstakingly slow process and accuracy is crucial. The custom frame goes through a six-stage application of gesso and is sanded between each coat to give an ultra smooth, porcelain like base. A coloured clay is then applied and given time to air until it is bone dry. The bespoke, hand-made frame is then sized before the wafer thin leaves of gold are applied with a fine fan brush. Genuine gold leaf gilded frames are rich and bright in colour, unlike the coloured metal leaf that is seen so often. Depending on the desired finish, once fully gilded, the frame is then burnished, using an agate stone.
For a cool, silver gilded frame finish we lay white gold leaf over a blue clay base. For warm, rich finishes, we use gold leaf over a red clay base. The options are vast, and each and every bespoke gilded frame we produce is hand-made by our gilding workshop and beautifully unique.
For more information on our gilding services or gilding restoration, please contact a member of our team.
Contact
T +44 (0)20 7281 5439
E info@johnjones.co.uk
John Jones Art Centre
Clifton Terrace
London
N4 3JG
Newsletter Sign up
