Polishing

When the prepared frames are quite dry, clean and polish them; to do this, wet a small piece at a time, and with a smooth fine piece of cloth dipped in water, rub the part till all the bumps and inequalities are removed, and for those parts where the fingers will not enter, as the mouldings, etc. wind the wet cloth round a piece of wood, and by this means make the surface all smooth and even alike.

Where there is carved work, etc. it will sometimes be necessary to bring the mouldings to their original sharpness, by means of chisels, gouges, etc. as the preparation will be apt to fill up all the finer parts of the work, which must be thus restored; it is sometimes the practice, after polishing, to go over the work, once, with fine yellow or Roman ochre, but this is rarely necessary.

Gold Size

Grind fine bol-ammoniac well with a muller and stone: scrape into it a little beef suet, and grind all well together; after which, mix in with a pallet knife a small proportion of parchment size with a double proportion of water.

Another

Grind a lump of tobacco-pipe clay into a very stiff paste with thin size; add a small quantity of ruddle, and fine black lead ground very fine, and temper the whole with a small piece of tallow.

To Prepare your Frames for Gilding-Take a small cup, or pipkin, into which put as much gold size as you judge sufficient for the work in hand, add parchment size, till it will just flow from the brush; when quite hot, pass over your work with a very soft brush, taking care not to put the first coat too thick; let it dry, and repeat it twice or three times more, and when quite dry, brush the whole with a stiff brush, to remove any remaining nobs. Your work is now ready for applying the gold.

Your parchment size should be of such a consistence, when cold, as the common jelly sold in the shops; for if too thick it will be apt to chip, and if too thin it will not have sufficient body.