Bole Clay

[Site Man]

OLD FORUM POSTS

Posted by joecrumley on March 14, 2004

I've seen Bole Clay mentioned from time to time but can't remember how it is used.

The only place where I have seen Bole used is in the custome framing. They had sevral clay vats where they would dip the corners of their more ornate frames. This left a thin deliclate coating of clay which gave a marvelous smooth affect. Most of these products were gilded.

Glawson's catalogue still offers some Bole. I would like to know how it is used.

Joe

Mike Jackson

Joe,
You have entered a new dimension...the frame gilder's zone...go back while you still can!

Actually, all you need to do is go to the link below and get an idea of what is going on. Rick sold the bole and a variety of brushes and agate burnishers. I believe he "stocked" the stuff, but not sure how much he sold to the sign trade. The frame finishing side of gilding is quite different, mainly in how they prepare the surface using clay, sand, & polish the wood prior to applying size. I am not sure how durable it would be outside, but maybe someone else knows.

A long time ago, I purchase a fairly expensive book from our good friend Arnold Jacobs in NY. It was about 1" think and filled with information related to surface gilding and finishing. I believe it was called "The Art of Decorative Finishing" or something similar...maybe Art of Decorative Gilded Finish? I looked on my shelf just now for it, but it must be in a box of seldom used books somewhere.

I suspect you could use some of the processes inside. I believe Dusty Yaxley experimented with the agate burnishers at one time.

Hope this helps,
Mike

Gilding a Picture Frame
http://www.diynet.com/diy/lv_faux_finis ... 85,00.html

Mike Jackson - 18 Days to Gild a Frame

If you read the text from the link above, you will see it takes a long time to gild a single frame. According to the page, after a coat or two of shellac, they suggest 12 light coats of gesso, letting it dry overnight between coats. That is followed by 6 coats of bole and rabbit skin glue, letting it dry overnight between coats.

For the sign trade, most of us are used to a couple of coats of good, sandable block out white, a coat of finish enamel, and a final layer of oil size. We strive to eliminate imperfections in the gild. The framing world spends all that time gilding the frame, then lightly buffs off part of the gold to reveal some of the clay undercoating to add "character".

Mike

Mike Jackson - "Google" yourself crazy

I forgot to mention...All I did was type in "frame gilding bole" in a Google search engine and found lots of links to this subject. It is an absolutely amazing research tool! You could also spend a day or two reading all the links to "faux marble". I found some links of interest looking at "glue chip glass" one night, though most supplied generic information.

Mike Jackson

D. Bernhardt

I second what Mike said below as to outdoor vs indoor with the exception of the gesso drying times. Yes the first coat takes all day or night but each successive coat dries faster....still a long process though. I've always wanted to experiment with these furniture/framing finishes but never found time or application.Have several oks on this...well probably 5or6 as this sort of thing is typical in art history or method books. Ralph Mayer for instance. Good luck and love to see the finished product. It is a VERY bright gild!

Mike Jackson - gesso/block out

Hi Doug,
I would probably agree with you about the gesso drying time, but I only reported the "directions" as described on the site.

Gesso is probably a lot like Block Out White. The general concensus is to coat one coat a day and not rush it. We often give a panel a coat of block out just before leaving or closing for the day, then coat it again the next morning. That time span might be about 10 hours. Knowing that scenario is fairly safe, we also find it possible to coat block out in the morning and giving it a second coat late in the evening since it has roughly 10 hours to dry (usually a warmer 10 hour period, too).

Even if you got two coats of gesso per day, it would still take a long time to prepare a frame for gilding using the process described for frames.

Mike

Doug Again

Hi again Goldie....I hear you and sorry....it is difficult to write in this box and still get a clear idea out there sometimes. This gesso they refer to is same as preparations for egg tempera panels and of course have used it a number of times. Although the chemistry is quite different than acrylics. Of interst though is that carving detail in old furniture was left in a "rough" state as the gesso was used to smooth it out in advance of gilding. "Materials of the artist and their use in painting" by Max Doerner (sp) is a great book on the subject as also is the Daniel Thompson on tempera painting, book which the "boss" also had in his collection.