In addition to a wide range of genuine and imitation leaves, Giusto Manetti Battiloro also offers an assortment of accessories for use in the various stages of the gilding process. Different leaf application techniques (water gilding or oil gilding) and applications (interior or exterior environments), require specific gilding materials, such as glues, boles and synthetic varnishes, for the preparation of the base, finishing and protection. Our experts will help you find the best solutions for your gilding needs.
Gypsum for gilders, rabbit skin glue and bole: water gilding is suggested to emphasize the three-dimensionality of the surfaces and is widely used in iconography, frames, period artefacts and above all in restoration, when it is necessary to integrate missing parts or damaged furniture.
DETAILS
Leaf glues, called sizes, are perfect for applying the leaf to smooth and not too porous surfaces: water-based size for surfaces with medium porosity, such as wood, plaster, stucco and paper; alcohol-based size for smooth and compact surfaces such as metal, plastic and glass; oil-based size for gilding exterior surfaces.
DETAILS
Once the gilding is complete, you can give it particular colour effects or an aged appearance using mecca varnish and liquid bitumen. Ageing or patination techniques are recommended specifically for gilding or restoration done with real gold or real silver, but some of them can also be applied to gilding done with imitation metals.
DETAILS
The type of protection you use will vary depending on the material of which the surface is made (wood, plastic, glass, metal, etc…), the environment in which the gilding is carried out (internal or external) and the metal used (precious metal leaf or imitation metal leaf). Select the ideal product among synthetic protections, acrylic protections and shellac (used in the gilding sector for polishing the gold leaf, as a light surface protection and as a sealant for porous surfaces before oil gilding).
DETAILS
We offer gilding materials for oil and water gilding. In the first case, the application of gold, silver, platinum, palladium or imitation leaf using an adhesive oil size is simple, fast and ideal for flat and smooth surfaces in wood, glass and metal. We offer different types of adhesives, depending on the material to be gilded and the intended use, which could be indoors or outdoors.
In the second case, the water gilding technique is much more complicated and requires a more elaborate preparation process. It is an ancient and artisanal craft that is also used for touch-ups or detailing on wood and plaster with genuine gold and silver leaf and, in rarer cases, with imitation leaf. Manetti products for water gilding include rabbit skin glue in flakes, for the preparation of a size or clay bole to coat the gesso base on which the leaf is attached. Our catalog also offers a choice of three finishing products: Bitumen to give the gilding an aged effect, a glossy synthetic varnish to protect the gilding, and shellac to seal porous surfaces or to use as a final protective coat for genuine gold. We have preserved and passed on the craft of beating precious metals into leaf since 1600 and today, we distribute our Manetti products and accessories for gold or silver gilding worldwide. Upon request, we can connect our customers with top-rated international gilding professionals. We would be pleased to prepare a quote and advise you on the most suitable products and application techniques.
© 2025 GIUSTO MANETTI BATTILORO S.p.A. | P.Iva/VAT 00389280488 - Cookie preferences
