tin leaf

[Compomouldings]

Hi

Can you water gild with tin leaf or is it just oil gilding?

Thanks

[vintage frames]

I suppose you could if you were really determined.

Tin leaf is much heavier than gold leaf so you would need to use a much stronger RSG mix in both the underlying bole and gilding liquor. The result of doing that can leave a fairly rough finish on the gilding - if it even manages to stick firmly enough.

A more sensible idea is to use a good quality oil size.
Tin leaf is very very cheap, and will not tarnish like silver leaf. I suppose the only disadvantage might be its rather odd appearance compared to silver, which is also relatively cheap compared to gold.

[Not your average framer]

I have both heard and seen quite a lot about tin leaf on the internet. It's quite a popular thing, especially for restoring old industrial antique items. A lot sorts of old junk is now being sought out by collectors and it now suddenly worth quite big money. Lots of things from the 1950's and the 1960's were originally produce with a lot of chrome decor. Well it's becoming a big thing again! It looks stunning on anything which is part of the art deco thing. I always understood that those who use tin leaf are mostly restorers and most restorers around here mainly use oil size anyway.