Gold Gilt Tooling
Traditional Elegance
The application and decoration of leather with gold leaf has a long and rich history, believed to have originated in Egypt, Syria, and Persia. This eastern part of the Mediterranean basin was an intellectual centre and cultural hotspot. Examples of Islamic and Coptic bindings date back to as early as 700 AD. In the 15th century, it made its way to Europe through the vibrant port city of Venice, Italy.
Background
Leather, soft, tactile, and warm, makes for a pleasant work surface. Although the craft of applying decorative patterns with gold leaf is derived from bookbinding and finishing, the process of applying it to a desktop is slightly different. Frank and his clients had expressed a growing dissatisfaction with the available options in Brisbane for this service, so he decided it was time to invest a significant amount of time and money in learning this craft. Frank has perfected this skill and is now proud to offer this service. He exclusively uses 22 to 24-carat gold leaf, applied in the same manner it has been done for hundreds of years.
Solid brass engraved stamps and wheels are highly specialized tools, custom-made with traditional decorative patterns and imported from England.
The brass tools are heated on a small stove and are used to apply pressure to the gold, activating the adhesive and permanently bonding the gold to the leather.
Process
The craft of gold gilt tooling on leather is fascinating and, like many craft traditions, filled with mystique and secrets. While the core principles are relatively straightforward, mastering this skill is not easy, and many restorers use shortcuts and tricks to speed up the process. Frank exclusively uses genuine gold, 22 to 24 carats, bound to the leather with traditional egg or shellac-based glair.
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There is a huge range of available leathers. This range varies greatly in terms of quality and how its manufactured.
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Leather is a heavily processed material with a wide range of applications.
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Frank sources a range of high quality leather from Italy. The leather we recommend is minimally processed, uncoated and not sealed.
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This is a type of leather, which is not heavily processed, and as such, has a naturalistic look. It may may contain imperfections as well variations in the pattern, texture and colour.
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Leather is purchased in full hides and fitted to the prepared surface with paste glue. Paste glue made from wheat starch has been used for thousands of years.
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Frank uses genuine gold, which, when applied to the leather with a heated tool, activates and adheres. The heat and pressure permanently bond the gold to the leather.
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Frank has a wide range of patterns and stamps and has applied gold to very large desks as well as very small writing desks.
As with most finishing processes, preparation is important. Splits, cracks, and knots need to be stabilised and repaired.
The leather Frank uses is approximately 0.9 to 1.2 mm thick. The recess must be the correct depth; ideally, the leather surface should be slightly lower than the edge.
Work in progress: Traditionally, the trade of book finishing required a 10-year apprenticeship. It is not an easy skill to master.
Leather is a natural material, so variations in grain and color are to be expected. Once the gold tooling is complete, the piece is sealed and waxed.
Like most high-quality crafts, gold tooling improves with age. Counterintuitively, the definition and crispness of the decorative pattern become sharper as the surface wears. The gold is pressed and recessed into the leather, below the surface; as the surface wears, the pattern sharpens.
Conclusion
"A tooled and gilded leather writing surface, crafted with genuine gold leaf and traditional bookbinding tools, beautifully complements an antique."