metals
Metal leaf (gold, silver, copper, alloys, and imitation)
can lend dramatic or subtle effects to objects and surfaces.
With many choices available in type and hue, the right application
can add complexity to a simple space.
Silver leaf was applied to the ceiling and wall cabinet of
a dining room. The technique requires careful layout to calculate
the overlap of sheets of leaf. The surface was prepped with
grey burnish sealer and wet sanded for smoothness. Leaf was
applied using oil gilding. The ceiling and cabinet were sealed
with a non-yellowing verathane to prevent the tarnishing of
the genuine silver leaf.
The walls in this room were finished with a lime based plaster
and burnished using trowels and water. The nesting shells were
leafed using gold leaf of varying karats without burnish sealer
to capture the transparency of the shells. Small groups of the
shells were later used in table settings for a wedding on Nantucket,
where the shells were gathered.
Metal leafing may involve toxic materials. Methods should be
discussed to determine if there are risks for residents or visitors
to the space.
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