Liner Restoration?

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kenb

Grumbler in Training
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Nov 19, 2007
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Hi! I'm looking for a source to restore victorian lemon-gilt liners. As you may know, they're fundamentally gesso and often damaged with large chips or missing bits. I'd consider suitable modern replacements, if all else fails.

Thanks, in advance, for your help!
 
kenb said:
Hi! I'm looking for a source to restore victorian lemon-gilt liners. As you may know, they're fundamentally gesso and often damaged with large chips or missing bits. I'd consider suitable modern replacements, if all else fails.

Thanks, in advance, for your help!
Click to expand...


Some frames deserve to be restaured, regardless of the cost, while others don't. If this liner is what I guess (silvere under gold lemon laquer, you are looking at a first class dificult restauration job, much more difficult one than if the frame was genuine gold leafed (and the last one is a difficult job all by itself). So,
1. Don't attempt to do it if you are not an expert at it yourself.
2. Don't be surprised at the price you'll be asked for by the one who would accepts the job
3. Anyone offering to do it for an acceptable price has no clue what he's doing or thinks that he'll be refinishing the entire frame, which, of course is not what restauration is.
4. A new frame shall be many times less expensive that the real restauration is.

I am not talking from books or seminars. I have first hand experience in this field and you can take my words to the bank.
 
I knew immediately what Kneb was talking about, but exactly what is "gold lemon laquer". Is that method still being used?

I've had numerous requests to "touch up" liners like that. Nothing looks good, very little sticks to it and the gesso is very fragile, so for me it's just live with it or replace it.
 
Gold lemon lacquer is sometimes called a "Mecca Finish" by some gilders. It is still in use on a conservation basis.

It is made by starting with "super blond shellac" and then adding dyes and colors to tint the shellac. Gambouge and Dragons Blood, 2 natural colors were the traditional dyes used. If there was a geometric pattern on the liner, it was usually painted on with a stencil
 
..but exactly what is "gold lemon laquer". Is that method still being used?..

Silver leaf is used, and a tinted shellac (or lacquer) over it protects from tarnish and gives it the "golden" appearance. This method is still being used (at least by me).

Joseph
 
josephforthill said:
..but exactly what is "gold lemon laquer". Is that method still being used?..

Silver leaf is used, and a tinted shellac (or lacquer) over it protects from tarnish and gives it the "golden" appearance. This method is still being used (at least by me).

Joseph
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Yes, that's been my understanding for many years. Used in the 19th C as a cheaper alternative to true gold leaf. Do you restore such liners?
 
So, are there any manufacturers of gilt liners I may use as suitable replacements, if no restoration is to be found?

Thanks!
 
...Do you restore such liners?..

Unless the liner is of unusual shape, profile, etc. AND if amount of damage is not extreme, it could be restored. For generic liners on Victorian rectangular walnut frames, for example, probably less costly to make a new one.

Bill Adair once told me that the dark stencil pattern we see on many 19th century liners was done with silver powders, over the "gold", and then ultimately tarnished to black/grey.

Joseph
 
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