SET A ROOM AGLOW WITH RADIANT SCHABIN AND GILDED FEATURES
- melinda979
- Apr 14
- 4 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
As an ancient art form that has stood the test of time, gilding continues to enhance everything from objects to buildings across the globe with its elegant metallic sheen. Believed to be the color of the gods, gold leaf was utilized by the Egyptians to adorn homes, furniture, and relics, and it was used early on by people in the Middle East, China, and Europe as well.
While gold leaf in particular might be what you are most familiar with and was seen most throughout history, metal leaf can be found in a variety of karats and types of metal. Silver, palladium, aluminum are just a few kinds that each bring their own unique qualities to a space. You can also go into a range of tones within gold leaf, depending on the look you want. If you want more of a white gold appearance you might consider a 20 karat caplain leaf, or for a richer tone you could go with a 22 karat moon gold. The beauty of any metal leaf is that it changes throughout the day depending on the lighting and setting.
1. 22 karat moon gold leaf carved gesso panel by Leah Beth Fishman.
2. Caplain leaf water gilded hand-carved gesso panel by Leah Beth Fishman.
The technique of gilding is usually done through one of two processes, and requires precision and skill as the metal leaf is extremely thin and delicate. Oil gilding involves the application of the leaf to a slow drying linseed oil and turpentine mixture called "size." While oil gilding is more durable, the advantage of using the second method—called water gilding—is that the finished product has more shine. The leaf is floated over a thin layer of rabbit skin glue, which allows the metal leaf to spread out smoothly.
Once the intended surface is covered in layers of metal leaf, the finished product becomes resistant to tarnish and deterioration, as long as the substrate remains stable. However, some metals like copper and silver are more prone to tarnishing. Pure metals like gold leaf can be applied to exteriors like the tops of skyscrapers and domes without needing a sealant, and will last for hundreds of years.
SuperStrata artisan Leah Beth Fishman has expertise in situations like these, which have unique considerations such as factoring in the weather, and using a harness to secure yourself while working so high up in the air—not for the faint of heart. Along those lines, great endurance is needed by our artisans, especially when gilding whole ceilings where they stand on scaffolding to apply metal leaf for hours at a time.
This is a feat accomplished by many of our artisans, such as Tim Murphy when he restored an ornate ceiling motif with metal leaf and patina. Sylvie Bilger has gilded a plethora of surfaces throughout the years from ceilings to accents on door panels, and David Faust produced wall mouldings gilded in gold leaf.
1. Tim Murphy restoring an ornate ceiling motif with gilding and patina.
2. Whitewashed wood panels with silver leaf accents by Sylvie Bilger with SuperStrata for DRA.
3. Gold leaf gilded wall mouldings and faux marble baseboard by David Faust.
4. Array of water gilded hand-carved gesso panels by Leah Beth Fishman.
Truly, gilding has a great amount of applications, from object d'art and furniture to columns and light coves. Another type of gilding is known as schabin, or "broken leaf," which is essentially pieces of loose metal leaf that can be applied in an overlapping way to create an interesting visual effect on walls, ceilings, and beyond. Our artisan Patrick Shoemaker installed a silver leaf schabin ceiling in the dressing room of a Baccarat Residence for a unique look.
1. View this silver leaf gilded plaster wall element by Patrick Shoemaker with SuperStrata for Paris Forino. Photo by Evan Joseph.
2. Silver leaf gilded ceiling light cove by Patrick Shoemaker with SuperStrata for Paris Forino. Photo by Evan Joseph.
When you want a few accents of gold or silver leaf, opt for our artisan Sopiko Barnovi's wallpaper designs—featuring just a flash of gilding can be a subtle way to bring in wall decor that catches the eye. Another way to convey gilded designs is through Lisa Stimpson's mastery of églomisé, an art form adjacent to gilding involving the application of metal leaf to the back side of the glass, which is then etched away to reveal the intended pattern.
1. Hand-painted watercolor wallpaper with gold leaf accents by Sopiko Barnovi.
2. Lisa Stimpson etching an églomisé design out of palladium leaf.
While many SuperStrata artisans use the traditional methods of gilding, their designs have a more modern aesthetic, such as Leah Beth Fishman's gilded carved gesso panels. Other innovative works of art can be created by combining techniques and materials, as our artisan Eva Pep does in her constant exploration of one-of-a-kind finishes.
1. Gilded carved gesso in multiple karats and types of gold leaf by Leah Beth Fishman.
2. Hand-carved gilded gesso panels designed and created by Leah Beth Fishman.
3. Gold leaf gilded plaster flutes by Eva Pep.
4. Bronze gilded bas relief design by Eva Pep.
Some of these might merge gilding with tooled plaster, or some could be applied over fluted plaster and bas reliefs. Collaborating with SuperStrata and our talented team of artisans brings a fresh perspective, decades of experience, and mastery of techniques that lead to designs you won't find anywhere else.
