Gold hand-ground, 10 sheets of 23 kt with gum arabic

Instructions for use.

Treated gold - consists of 10 sheets of gold leaf, rubbed with a finger in a special way (it cannot be done mechanically, since the fat from the finger also takes part in the process) with gum arabic. The result is a natural gold paint, which is dried in a ceramic plate. In order to use it, like a watercolor, we drip a small drop of water from the handle of the brush, mix a little and begin to draw or write on the icon or other surfaces. A distinctive feature of this paint is the ability to polish with an agate polisher (as like gold put on a bolus). This technique is typical for masters of miniatures from Palekh, Mstera, Kholui.

Mode of application.
Treated gold comes in dry form in a ceramic plate, in which the master created it. This state of gold helps him to maintain his artistic properties for a long time. In order to bring the gold in the working state, it is necessary to drip a small drop of clean water from the tip of the handle of the brush. Then take a brush with the resulting mass and you can start drawing ornaments or writing letters. To apply this kind of gold, often use a special brush with a long pile handmade, made by craftswomen from sable or marten. They allow for one dipping absorbing a large amount of gold paint, which is very convenient for drawing long thin lines or 4-6 letters in a row. Alternatively, you can use brushes kolinsky “00”, “0” and “1” sizes. You can also try using brushes for «pin striping».
After applying the golden paint to the surface, it can be polished with an agate polisher (in contrast to assist, where polishing is impossible). Before coating with varnish, the gold must be covered with highly purified shellac or sandarac.

Rules for the storage of gold.
A plate with gold must be kept in a place protected from dust.