Metal Leaf

Description:
Book of loose gold leaf is assembled by placing each unit of gold leaf between sheets of thin rouged paper. The gilder can then remove one leaf a time without disturbing the remaining leaves. It is removed from the book with a gilders tip, a flat natural hair brush.

Karats and alloys

Gold is alloyed with silver, copper and other meals to achieve a variety of colors and shades. A higher gold content and/or greater amount of copper will result in deeper tones of leaf. The higher karat leaves are also more durable due to the higher gold content. In the lower karats of leaf, such as 18,16 and 12 karats, gold is alloyed with silver or other metals to achieve lighter colors.