preparation to prevent the gold sticking where it is not required. The white of an egg beaten up with a little water is the best preparation upon varnished or enamelled work. The white of one egg to 4 ounces of water is sufficiently strong. Upon ordinary painted work, a good rubbing with a pounce bag, that is, a small calico bag filled with fine sifted whiting, will suffice. A little size and water is also effective, and if a little whiting is added to it, it is still more so. White of egg must not be used too strong, never more than two-thirds water to one-third egg. This is the least detrimental to the luster of the gold. Ordinary painted work that has to be partly gilt and then varnished, may be prepared by rubbing with a piece of very fine glass paper and some dry whiting. Whiting preparations have a tendency to cause the gold size to run.
The gold size must be laid evenly and sparely. If laid too heavily it will crinkle up after the gilding has been done. It is sometimes necessary to add color to the gold size in decorative work, so as to see better where the size is put on level, etc. Tube colors may be used for this purpose, and they should always approximate to the color of gold as nearly as possible, as the gold leaf is full of innumerable small holes, and the color used in the size has an effect upon the appearance of the gold when laid. Chrome, burnt sienna, vermilion, or ochre are suitable colors.
Gold size should never be gilded unless quite ready. The size should be just tacky enough to hold the gold leaf, but never wet enough to smear or move if rubbed with the finger tip. Gold laid upon too wet size will turn black and lusterless. The precise condition is ascertained by the application of the clean finger tip, and practice will enable the operator to judge very accurately.
Turpentine should not be used as a thinner in gold size, because it leaves behind it, after evaporation, a resinous oil, which never properly hardens. A little boiled oil is the best
