Miter Imitation Gold Leaf?

[Woodworks by John]

I've seen pros and cons on whether you should miter Dutch gold at the corners of the frame. Looking for thoughts/arguments from other gilders. I'm contemplating doing the miter and then calculating where the center will be on the frame leg and cutting a piece of the leaf to fit as close to center as possible. My goal is to have the lay lines equal all the way around the frame.
Thanks in advance -- John

 

[JFeig]

In my over 35 years of gilding experience, I never applied leaf cut to the 45° miter of a corner. To do so would require a barrier(EX: masking tape) cut to 45° for accuracy. Having equal "lay lines", spacing and width, is a real challenge unless you do it 8 hours a day, five days a week. Then there is the custom to work from a corner and work your way to the end of the rail vs from the center, working in both directions.

 

[Vintage Frames]

If you want the overlaps to be equal all the way around, just overlay a fresh leaf at the mitres so as to balance the effect.
That is assuming you will have measured and marked where the overlaps should appear.

 

[cvm]

My personal opinion is that with Dutch gold if your spacing is too perfect, it can look too mechanical/stamped/foil-like instead of hand-applied.

 

[Woodworks by John]

In my over 35 years of gilding experience, I never applied leaf cut to the 45° miter of a corner. To do so would require a barrier(EX: masking tape) cut to 45° for accuracy. Having equal "lay lines", spacing and width, is a real challenge unless you do it 8 hours a day, five days a week. Then there is the custom to work from a corner and work your way to the end of the rail vs from the center, working in both directions.

Understood -- it's one of those thoughts that "didn't even look good on paper"! Probably better to work from center to each coner and let the leaf fall where it may. Trying to be too "anal", dovetails I lay out with dividers but gilding is a different beast! Thanks for bringing me back to reality -- John

 

[Woodworks by John]

My personal opinion is that with Dutch gold if your spacing is too perfect, it can look too mechanical/stamped/foil-like instead of hand-applied.

Ugh, don't want that mass produced, computer created look

 

[Prospero]

It's good that you have a feeling for details, but you can overdo it.

IMHO if you are gilding a frame then the corners should be blended in and appear seamless.
Reinstating the miters seems a bit strange to me on a 'closed corner' frame. The butt-lines on
imitation leaf are quite unobtrusive anyway.

It's a different matter with water gilding with real gold as the leaves will overlap and give a double
thickness. This gives the distinctive lap lines that become more apparent depending on how the leaf
is burnished/distressed. This is generally regarded as a desirable effect and a sign of quality. I often try
to replicate this when using Bronze Powder for gilding. OK, it's phoney but it can look alright.

 

[Woodworks by John]

Thanks, I have often been accused of being "anal" -- appreciate your response and I will let it go!!