Water Gilding Basics
By Ron Percell, gilding expert at Letterhead Sign Supply — 50 plus years of gilding advice.
Water gilding is the art of mirror making, known as reverse glass gilding. This step-by-step water gilding basic tutorial covers the fundamentals of applying gold leaf for gold mirrored artwork, letters, and lines.
Water gilding with gold leaf and precious metals like pure silver and palladium leaf — with gelatin size — produces a true mirror finish. This is the traditional technique behind brilliant gold mirrors on glass.
Water gilding lesser materials — brass, aluminum, and copper leaf — doesn't work well and often comes off right away. Imitation metal leaf is too thick and heavy and doesn't allow the gelatin size to dry properly; those are better surface-gilded with oil gold sizes.
So when water gilding, always use real gold, or pure silver and palladium when you're worried about the silver tarnishing right away.
Materials for Basic Water Gilding
Water gilding requires several different items. Gather these before you begin — each plays a specific role in the process.
Gold Leaf
Genuine gold leaf, loose (surface) leaf for water gilding on glass. Real gold is required — imitation leaf will not produce a mirror finish.
Gelatin Sizing
The water-based adhesive (gelatin size) that bonds the leaf to glass and dries to a brilliant, reflective finish.
Gilder's Tip
A flat brush of fine hair used to lift and transfer delicate loose gold leaf sheets without tearing them.
Rolled Cotton
Used for burnishing and pressing the leaf, and for backing and finishing work on reverse glass pieces.
Backing Paint
Protective paint applied over the gilded leaf on the back of the glass to seal and protect the gold.
Brush & Lettering Quill
Brushes for applying size and a lettering quill for drawing fine lines and lettering in the gilded design.
Soap
Used in preparing the gilder's tip and in cleaning glass surfaces before gilding begins.
Additional Gilder's Tools
These tools help in the gilding process but are not strictly necessary for basic water gilding. As your work advances, each earns its place on the bench.
Gilder's Knife
A long, straight blade for cutting gold leaf to size on the gilder's pad.
Gilder's Pad
A padded leather surface on which gold leaf is laid out and cut with the gilder's knife.
Gilder's Dusting Mop
A soft mop brush for dusting away loose skewings and excess leaf after application.
Gilder's Etching Pens
Fine pens for etching fades and delicate detail work into the gilded surface.
Gilder's Chalice
A small vessel for holding and mixing gelatin size during the gilding session.
Choosing the Right Leaf
Not all leaf behaves the same. The metal you choose determines whether you get a mirror — or a mess.
Genuine Leaf — for Water Gilding
- Gold leaf (23kt–24kt): the standard for mirror-bright water gilding on glass.
- Pure silver leaf: brilliant white mirror; tarnishes over time unless sealed.
- Palladium leaf: the tarnish-resistant alternative to silver for lasting brightness.
- White gold / pale gold: subtle color variations for special effects.
- Always use loose (surface) leaf with a gilder's tip for glass work.
Imitation Leaf — for Oil Gilding
- Brass, aluminum, copper leaf: too thick for water gilding; the gelatin size can't dry properly.
- Best applied with oil gold sizes (quick or slow size) for surface gilding.
- Useful for large areas, frames, and architectural work where a mirror finish isn't required.
- More economical for practice and for projects where genuine leaf isn't necessary.
Water Gilding: Step by Step
The fundamental sequence for mirror gilding on glass. Each step builds on the last — patience at every stage is what produces the mirror.
Prepare the Glass
Clean the glass thoroughly — any dust, oil, or residue will show through the mirror. Work in a clean, still-air space.
Mix the Gelatin Size
Prepare your gelatin sizing to the correct consistency. The size is the adhesive that will carry the leaf onto the glass.
Lay Out the Leaf
Place genuine loose gold leaf on the gilder's pad. Cut to size with the gilder's knife as needed.
Charge the Tip
Prepare the gilder's tip (a touch of soap helps) and lift the leaf sheet cleanly without tearing.
Float the Leaf On
Apply gelatin size to the glass and lay the leaf onto the wet size, working from one edge to avoid trapping air.
Press & Burnish
Use rolled cotton to gently press the leaf into full contact, working out wrinkles toward the edges.
Let It Dry
Allow the gelatin size to dry completely. Rushing this stage ruins the mirror — genuine leaf needs full drying time.
Dust the Skewings
With the gilder's dusting mop, sweep away loose excess leaf (skewings) from the gilded area.
Etch & Detail
Use lettering quills and etching pens for lines, fades, and fine detail in the gilded design.
Back It Up
Apply backing paint over the leaf to protect the gold and give the finished piece its final appearance from the front.
Books on Gilding
Asked often at the shop: what should I read to learn gilding properly? These are the books gilders reach for.
Gilding on Glass, Wood & Metal
A practical guide to gold leaf application across surfaces — the book behind many first successful gilds.
Gold Leaf Techniques
The classic manual on handling leaf, sizes, and traditional methods — a bench reference for working gilders.
Gold Leaf Brushes Starter Kit
The core brushes for gilding — dusting mop, etching pen, surplus brush, gilder's tip, water size brush — chosen to get beginners started in the right direction.
Sources & Further Reading
- Water Gilding Basics tutorial — howtogild.com
- Gold leaf supplier & gilding materials — Letterhead Sign Supply
- Surface gilding gold leaf — Letterhead Sign Supply
- Gilding on glass, wood & metal book — Letterhead Sign Supply
Get Your Gilding Supplies
Genuine gold leaf, gelatin size, gilder's tips, brushes, and every tool on this page — from the shop that teaches the trade.