How was it made? Water gilding | V&A

Water gilding is a process which makes wood look like gold. Follow the stages involved in gilding a wooden frame – from brushing on layers of gesso (glue and chalk mixture), to applying and burnishing the gold leaf.

How to make a gilded frame:
Glue applied to wood: 00:27
Gesso mixed and applied in layers: 00:34
Gesso smoothed with dried horsetail plant: 00:46
Details cut into the base: 00:58
Yellow ochre pigment applied: 01:07
Bole applied: 01:20
Surface is smoothed with a brush: 01:29
Water is brushed on and gold leaf is applied: 01:56
An animal tooth is used to burnish the surface: 02:15
Frame is coated with glue for an even finish: 02:33

Find out more: https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/frames