When you think of gold leaf, you imagine a very thin and square gold-coloured veil: an idea that is not entirely wrong, of course, but one that we consider incomplete.
Gold leaf is a thousand and plus images, versions, applications, tones, effects and, last but not least, emotions.
From the type of project you’re thinking of creating to the final effect you want to achieve, in this article we aim to explain the various types of gold leaf that we offer at Giusto Manetti Battiloro. What do they all have in common? The meticulous care, the deep knowledge and the irrepressible passion that have guided us for 15 generations in the transformation of the ingot into a leaf.

The first question to ask oneself is: do I have enough experience?

Leading on from this question there are two possibilities: gold leaf and imitation leaf.
Why are we starting from this point?

• Gold leaf offers timeless elegance, enhancing every surface, but its application requires manual skill.
• Imitation leaf still guarantees a refined aesthetic with the advantage of being easier to apply.
  
  Ask yourself how familiar you are with gilding and consider that the two types of leaf require different application skills. Then choose the product you feel most comfortable with.

Gold leaf: but in what format? And how thick?

If you answered “gold leaf” to the first question, then you have two other possibilities, depending on the type of surface you intend to gild, the gilding technique and above all, one’s level of experience.
Free or decalco? We discussed it on our Instagram profile here.

• Free: a type of leaf suitable for the restoration and gilding of sculpted surfaces. It can be applied with a mission or guazzo gilding technique and is ideal for professional gilders. 
• Decalco: presented on tissue paper, it is easier to apply on flat surfaces and therefore also suitable for beginners. It can be applied following the mission gilding technique.

The thickness of the leaf is also one of the characteristics to take into account, we have delved into the topic in this Instagram post:

• Standard: suitable for gilding carved or sculpted surfaces
• Double: suitable for projects requiring a more uniform surface effect 
• Extra-thick: ideal for gilding outdoors because it is more resistant to various weather conditions.

The last question: what kind of project do I want to create?

Every environment, element and material requires its specific gold leaf, or rather: for every type of project there is the Giusto Manetti Battiloro leaf best suited to enhance it, in technical but also aesthetic and expressive terms.
To guide you in choosing the most suitable shade for your project, we have created this practical colour chart: it contains leaf samples in various precious metals offering the opportunity to compare the colour, tone, shine and brilliance of the precious metal leaf.

Outdoor gilding and restoration: choose gold leaves ranging from 24 kt to 23 kt

The 24 kt and the 23.75 kt gold leaves are especially suitable for outdoor restoration projects, in particular of statues and monuments, thanks to two main features:

• high resistance to oxidation: when the surface we intend to gild is outdoors, we must take into account the atmospheric events to which it will be subjected. Rain, wind but also various temperatures. We talked about it in this article.
• great aesthetic expressiveness: the 24 kt gold leaf , with a gritty yellow colour, offers a truly unique and perfect brilliance to make a monument stand out among the architectural elements of the surrounding environment.

The 23.75 ktgold leaf (13 grams and 14 grams) offers a warm and slightly orange shade that enhances the depth and character of the historic surfaces.
The 23 kt gold leaf, on the other hand, is particularly recommended for interior restoration projects, thanks to a warm shade that adds depth and richness to the surface. It is available in dark yellow, florin, extra yellow gold.

Gilding for interior design: white gold is the winning shade

Our 12 kt white gold leaf is characterised by silver reflections that offer a modern and elegant metallic finish. For this reason, it is widely used in interior design projects, glass gilding and in contemporary applications, creating a light effect and an environment that is surrounded by a lot of new light.

Frame gilding: we recommend the 22kt Yellow gold leaf

Our 22 kt Yellow leaf has a lively orange-gold shade, particularly suitable for signs, frames and decorative applications that require strong and expressive aesthetics. It can be applied with guazzo or mission gilding, on flat or sculpted surfaces.

Gilding with imitation leaf

As previously mentioned, imitation gold leaf is particularly suitable for those who are new to the art of gilding, as it is easier to handle and apply.
With the exception however of exterior gilding, which requires the use of real gold leaves capable of withstanding the elements. With regard to gilding for interior environments, or objects such as frames, there is no single ideal product: everything lies in the effect you choose to reproduce. For example, are you looking to achieve a bold impact? Then opt for an imitation leaf with a strong yellow hue, like this one.
Discover all our imitation leaves and choose your favourite!

Experience the Giusto Manetti Battiloro gold leaves

At Giusto Manetti Battiloro, we offer a wide range of products to guide you towards the most suitable and, above all, the most aesthetically effective gilding!
All our colours lend themselves to a variety of projects. The important thing is to pre-emptively identify the technical needs of the surface you intend to gild and the environment in which it is located: an external environment, for example, may be subject to harsh weather and changes in temperature, which can favour the oxidation of the gold leaf if chosen in an inadequate size. Once you have defined these priorities, you can choose the shade of the gold leaf you prefer. The ‘wow’ effect is guaranteed!
Our aim with this article was to give you recommendations on which gold leaves, in our opinion, are the best suited, in terms of colour and characteristics, for specific projects: this is because the most interesting aspect of gold leaves is that in such a small and thin surface they convey infinite peculiarities. Knowing how to interpret them means having all the tools at your disposal to select the right product and carry out a high-level project that isextremely resistant, easier to create and aesthetically surprising.
Contact us to help you find the ideal gold leaf for your needs.