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Metal Leafing
Metal leafing is a much more modern and cost conscious method of gilding, simply because it utilizes less precious alloys rather than gold or silver, that would not have been available to artisans in years past. The metals used to create the leaf are usually comprised of various combinations of aluminum, copper, and zinc. These metals are then blended together to simulate the appearance of either gold or silver.
The application of metal leaf is virtually identical to oil gilding, in that the gilder must apply a sizing to a primed surface, and carefully place the leaf after the size has dried to the appropriate tack. After the leaf has been allowed to cure on the sizing, it can be rubbed, distressed, and toned with paint to create a look similar to a gold gilded finish. For most, the greatest advantages of metal leaf are its low cost, and its ease in handling, and its relatively simple preparation process. The disadvantages of metal leaf however, lie within its limitations: First, one cannot water gild with metal leaf and therefore cannot burnish it to a high shine. Second, the metals used to create the leaf are reactionary by nature (unlike gold) and will tarnish (oxidize) very quickly if handled without gloves, or if left unsealed for too long.