Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf

Material

In this case it concerns hammered bronze. This material mainly consists of copper and some zinc and is to be rated as very delicate.

Overview on the alloying constituents of Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf

With the production of Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf the oxidation already starts through the heating-up during the beating process. Hint: Heat up a leaf of Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf on an electric heating plate or heat it up carefully with a flame and see the result.

Hotel in the Middle East
Damage caused by oxidation - Overview and Detailview

UV radiation, humidity and unsteady temperatures cause a further oxidation of the Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf. An external utilisation of Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf is not advisable at all.

Processing

With the processing of Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf, further oxidation is caused by wet bases, evaporating lacquer coatings, chemical reactions, humidity, fingerprints and hand perspiration.

It is very important to let the lacquered bases dry, harden and evaporate as long as possible before covering with Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal. Drying periods of at least 2 weeks with 2-K lacquers and at least 4 weeks with 1-K lacquers are recommended. A really solid lacquer surface for covering with Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf will only be reached after some months.

Shopping Mall in the Middle East - Overview and Detailview

The difficult processing of Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf is also to be taken into account. The material should only be touched with cotton gloves in order to avoid fingerprints and their later oxidation. Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal is four times thicker than genuine gold leaf and is hardly to be processed in hollows, carvings and ornaments. Polishing produces flake dust that often lies down in hollows and leaves an unclean impression.

The necessary overlacquering of the Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf surface does not stop the started oxidation process but only slows it down. Additionally, some clear lacquers could contain substances that support oxidation. A warranty on a Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf surface should never be granted as discolourations and colour changes are inevitable.

The metallic character of the gilding also gets lost because of the new refraction of light due to the necessary lacquer coating. The »gold« then looks more painted and the surface loses its »fire«. The spots of the Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf surface overseen, left out during the overlacquing will become visible through severe oxidation after a short time.

Department store in London
Oxidized »gilding«
(application of Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf)

Restoration

Hotel in New York
Oxidized »gilding«
(appliction of Metal Leaf / Dutch
Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf)

Restoration and/or repairing of a Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf gilding is very difficult. All Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf must be removed in order to get a clean surface for a new gilding. Due to the unfortunately frequent use of dispersion glues (water based goldsize) with Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf gildings, this is a time-consuming work that often damages the surface.

Restorations on hardly accessible places like ceilings, entrance halls, churches, theatres, concert halls and hotels are especially cost-intensive and very disturbing. The implementation of Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf on and in listed objects and buildings is very questionable. Any necessary restoration leads to a loss of substance and so it demands a longstanding solution that is not possible with Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf.

 

Stucco details in a hotel in New York.
Gilding with Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf
Damage caused by oxidation

Recommendation

Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf should be used on short-living surfaces or non-valuable objects. The decision whether to use Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf or Genuine Gold Leaf must also be determined by the desired life expectation of the executed work. The extensive costs for the renewal of an oxidised and unsightly Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf surface must be included into the consideration.

Bronzed* fence in London Outdoor gilding Mat and oxidized surface

in comparison: gilding with Genuine Gold Leaf

*Info: Bronze powder is fine metal powder. The alloy components in rich-pale gold execution correspond to those of Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf, colour 2 1/2.

In comparison with an oil gilding with genuine gold leaf a Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf gilding requires the following additional steps:

• More accurate surface sealing with lacquer in order to delay oxidation
• Longer lacquer drying periods in order to reduce evaporation and reaction with Metal Leaf
• More working time with the processing of hollows
• Additional protection coating with lacquer

These additional costs must be added to the more favourable material costs of Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf. A life expectation of at least the tenfold of Genuine Gold Leaf must be considered in a serious calculation.

Remark

The oldest oxidation-free gilts under implementation of Genuine Gold Leaf are in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo (5,000 years !).

Always let your customers confirm in writing the implementation of Metal Leaf / Dutch Metal / Imitation Gold Leaf. The short pleasure on the more favourable price will fade away with the first oxidation spots and then lead to expensive regression claims.