Featured How to remove silver with out damaged to gold under ?

Hey...don't stop now...we like to learn too !!

How did you do the back ?
& what's it look like ???

 

Thanks found the articals very informative

 

Hi mainly scratched it and but if found if you wer a sanding block a little and rub and then wipe the wet away that helps too

 

Paint stripper WILL remove gold leaf. You should never use anything wet on gilding unless you are 100% sure it is NOT water gilded. Anything that is wet will start to destroy the gesso under the gold.

If you are 100% positive it was oil gilded, you can use mineral spirits. Even then, you risk damaging the gold.

 

Any tips I think it right water dulls iv been dipping in water then wiping away quick but I need a better methods any tips and thanks in advance here's how 8m getting on

Wooden buddah by Vicky McFadden posted Sep 19, 2019 at 12:06 AM

 

It is not water gilded. However, you have pieces of the wood already exposed where the gold has worn away. I would not use the mineral spirits because of the exposed wood. You could try some denatured alcohol on a q-tip but don't do it right on the front. Find a small space on the back to experiment.

 

They only thing I have at my disposal today would be 100 % asyprol (food grade) what's your thoughts on that pls

 

Wow, you've done a lot already, and it is starting to look better with that gold.

Knowing the age can help to identify what kind of gilding or paint and base coat could have been used, that is why it is good to know before anyone can give advice.
But I agree, what counts in the end is that you like it.

 

Vicky, sorry not familiar with that stuff - is that a brand name or something?

#neverheardofit

 

That's probably it - isopropyl .... should be fine.

 

I've studied gilding for many years and studied under a well known gilder and restorer. All the books I've read (there are many) and the gilders I've met only use denatured alcohol. I wouldn't use anything else. Just my humble opinion.

 

I too am a restorer and have done a fair bit of gilding, regency mirrors, bulls-eye mirrors, furniture etc. Projects missing even the entire gesso and bole undercoats - so I'm familiar with working with antiques from bare wood on up to the final burnishing. I am (was) a water gilt specialist although I have done some oil gilding.

IMHO this statue is probably dutch metal and requires no special alcohol to get the silver coat off. It isn't like it's particularly valuable or anything - the OP just wants it to look presentable and mainly "gold-ish"

 

What is dutch metal? We Dutch have a great love of high finenesses gold (preferably together with Mediterranean red coral), but you probably don't mean that.

The statue itself is wood, btw. And I agree, it has no great value, only the love Vicky has for it.

 

Dutch metal is imitation gold leaf, in the trade. Basically, bronze leaf. It is easier to apply and handle than genuine gold leaf because it is quite a bit thicker, however it is never used in water gilding and of course cannot burnished.
It is a reasonable facsimilie of gold leaf and is found on many less expensive "gilded" objects.

 

The value isn't important if it's something she likes and wants to preserve. After all that effort, it would be a shame for it to peel away.

 

Absolutely.