Angel Gilding vs Gold Leaf
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There are four ways to apply gold to glass - two hot and two
cold. Gilding Hot Glass If you are working with hot glass, you can apply gold leaf to the molten glass while working at the glory hole. Or you can apply a gold overglaze to cold glass and then fire it in a kiln. Both techniques fuse the gold into the glass making it permanent and washable. For more information on using a gold overglaze (Liquid Bright Gold) go to Dogwood Ceramics. |
Gilding Cold Glass
If you want to apply gold to glass at room temperature, you can Angel Gild it or gold leaf it. This website has all the instructions and supplies you need for Angel Gilding. We also carry Dave Smith's new Smith Tip which makes it easier then ever before to apply gold leaf. We carry silver and aluminum leaf. Because of its volatile price, we do not carry gold leaf.
This chart lists the differences between Angel Gilding and gold leaf gilding. The technique you chose will depend on the size, location and design requirements of the job in hand. This chart applies to silver and copper as well as gold.
| Angel Gilding | Gold Leaf |
| Apply to a horizontal surface | Apply to a vertical surface |
| Apply to the back of the glass | Apply to either side of the glass |
| Use on a work bench | Use in any location |
| Requires careful measurements | Requires well developed fine motor skills |
| Can be chemically removed | Can be chemically removed1 |
| Uses gold efficiently2 | Waste occurs during burnishing |
| Requires two metal layers | Uses more gold per square foot2 |
| Gilds textured glass easily | Does not gild textured glass well. |
| Faster for large areas3 | Faster for small areas |
| Screen print for selective designs | Screen print for selective designs |
| Apply over a vinyl mask | Can not apply over a vinyl mask |
| Apply to the inside of a container | Apply to porous surfaces |
| Seamless | Shows lines between the leaves |
1Our mirror removers dissolve metal leaf.
2In October 2007 Robert Frese of Chicagold Signs told me that he would need 32 gold leaves to gild one square foot of glass perfectly. At that time the spot price of gold was $750 a Troy ounce and a book of 500 gold leaves cost about $635. Robert’s 32 gold leaves would have cost him $40. He could have Angel Gilded the glass for $18.
3It takes the same amount of time to Angel Gild 4 square feet as it does 1 square foot. Gold leaves are applied one leaf at a time.
Note: For detailed instructions on gold leaf gilding, read Gold Leaf Techniques by Raymond LeBlanc, edited by Kent Smith and published by ST Media Group International, 1986, ISBN: 0-911380-71-X
