[HBP#38] - Nigel Castell - Traditional Gilding: The Art of Gold Leaf

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Welcome to the Heritage Buildings Podcast!

In this episode, Vincent Reed sits down with Nigel Castell, an experienced gilder and antique restoration specialist, to explore the traditional craft of water gilding and gold leaf application.

Nigel shares his journey into antique restoration at just 17 and explains how he learned traditional gilding skills through hands-on, bench-based training. He takes us through the complete water gilding process, from preparing wood and applying rabbit skin size and gesso, to sanding, gesso cutting, preparing clay bole, laying gold leaf, and finally burnishing with agate stones.

The conversation also explores the differences between water gilding and oil gilding, the tools and materials used by traditional gilders, the challenges of working with gold leaf, and why these specialist craftsmanship skills are becoming increasingly rare.

Topics covered include:

• Nigel's journey into antique restoration and traditional gilding

• Learning gilding techniques at the bench

• Preparing wood, gesso, and rabbit skin size

• Gesso application, sanding, and cutting

• Yellow ochre and traditional clay bole

• Preparing and applying gold leaf