The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Furniture Finishing
BURNISHING BRONZE
The application of burnishing bronze can be accomplished in the same manner, except that the bronze coating must be reasonably heavy to allow for burnishing with an agate tool. After the bronze has firmly set in the sizing, the tool is rubbed over the bronze until the correct brilliance has been produced. The most essential part of patching this finish is the correct shade of bronze.
METAL LEAF PATCHING
Gold or silver metal leaf patching is quite difficult, due to the fact that one is apt to have wrinkles in the leaf when laying it on small spots and in pressing it out quickly, thus spoiling the job. Select the proper metal leaf and follow directions above in blowing on the liquid with a mouth-spray. The liquid should be allowed to dry until almost hard—just tacky enough so that the leaf will adhere firmly. Lay a piece of gold leaf on the pillow (all metal leaf should be laid from a small pillow, similar to a pin-cushion and filled with cotton wool) and apply with a small brush to the tacky sizing. The leaf is then allowed a few hours for drying, after which any surplus is removed. In most cases a lacquer of some kind is sprayed over the spot for protection.
Glue size is also used but this is not recommended in patching as it is difficult to remove from the rest of the surface without injury to the finish. In using the burnishing tool over the leaf, press the little finger over the agate, holding the handle firmly in the hand and passing over with much pressure. Do not lift the tool until the desired lustre is obtained.
Glazed Bronze Effects.—It is frequently necessary, as in the case of antique-glazed picture frames, etc., to flow over a coating of colors in japan and wipe off almost entirely (if a novelty moulding where the color adheres to recesses in the moulding).
If the surface to be patched is large use colors in oil. In the cheaper antique bronze finishes one can mix dry pigment colors with the bronze powder in a japan liquid and spray over the spot after it is leveled or smoothed. In case it is necessary to fill a deep hole before bronzing, fill with water putty, plaster paris, or wood cement.
Polychrome Bronze Effects.—This finish consists of several coats of bronze powder of different colors, blended together. Select all the different colors of bronze powder used in the original finish and mix with bronzing liquid, each color separately, in a very small container—say a two-ounce bottle—and using the mouth-spray, deposit a thin coating of each color. Allow about ten minutes for each coat to set before applying another. Sometimes it is necessary to rub a glaze over this, when absolutely dry, and wipe off to match.
