SECTION II.
Of the injlruments that are common to 'the oil, varnijh, and japaners gilding.
TH E* fufl neceflaiy inftrument is, a cufhion for receiving the leaves of gold from the paper, in order to its being cat into proper lize and figures, for covering the places
to be gilt. This cushion Ihould be made of leather, and faflned to a fquare board, which ihould have a handle. It may be of any fiee from fourteen inches fquare to ten; and ihould be fluffed betwixt die leather and board with fine tow or wool; but in fuch manner that the furface may be perfectly flat and even.
A proper knife is the next, and an equally requifite inftrument; as it is neceflarym all cafes to cot or divide the gold into parts corre- fpondent to thofe, which are to be covered. This .knife may be the fame in all refpedbs as thole ufed in painting, called inives; die blade of which may be four or fix inches long, and fomc what more than half an inch in breadth, with a handle proportionable.
Afquirrel’s tail is like wife generally provided, for taking up the whole leaves, and for comprefling the gold to the furface where it is laid, and giving it the pofition required; and is ufed alfb by feme for taking up the parts of leaves; but this is better done by means of a ball of cotton wool; which will both anfwer this end and that of comprcfling the gold in a more ea fy and effectual manner. This fquirrels tail is cut Ihort, and fotnetimes fpread in the fan fafhion by means of a piece of wood formed like a pencil ftick, but broad at one endr and fplit to receive the tail; but it will equally ferve the purpofe in its own form when the hair is cut to a proper length. This inflru* ment is by feme called a pallet; but improperly ; as the board for holding the colours in .painting, and which is frequently in ufe along with this, being called by the fame name, would neceflarily produce a confufion in fpeaking of either. ’ •
Abrulh of very foft hog’s hair, or of the fitch kind, made large, is likewife commonly ufed for palling over the work when it is become dry, in order to take off the loofe gold.
Some fine cotton wool is allb necedary for taking up the fmaller parts ©f the leaves, and laying them on the work : as allb for com- prelling and adjufting them when laid on* The cotton Ihould be formed into a ball by tying it up in a piece of fine linnen rag j, for if it be ufed without the rag, the fibres adhere to the gold fize, and embarrafs the Work.
A fmall ftone and muller, with a proportionable pallet knife, are required for grinding and tempering the mixtures made of the fat oil, or gold lize, with each other, and the colours that may be added to them : as allb pro-per brufhes for laying on, and fpreading the fat oil, or fize, on the work: and feme of th;fe fhould be fitches of different fizes i in order to convey, and fettle the gold, where the relief of carved work forms deep hollows.
Thefe are all the inftruments that are common to all the three principal kinds of gilding j fuch as are peculiar to each, I fhall take notice of where they more properly occur.