We apply gold leaf on the surface of Bronze Buddha Statues is to give the statue of Buddha a golden body effect to show our sincere respect. On other hand, genuine 24kt gold leaf can play a important role of protecting the surface, it has corrosion and oxidation resistance especially for outdoor Bronze Buddha that needs a more durable lifetime.
Then how to apply gold leaf on the bronze Buddha in a manner way? Normally we have 6 easier steps,
1. Puttying the surface
Putty usually requires the thinner the better, mainly to make surface smooth and there is no unevenness under the premise of following the surface texture.
The first step of puttying on the Bronze Buddha Statue surface in Sino factory
2. Priming the Bronze Buddha surface
It is very essential to apply a high quality primer over bronze Buddha surface to ensure the gold foil have an appropriate surface to rest on. And the traditional gilding use either red or ochre colors as a base for genuine gold leaf, all in words, the closer to the gold, the better. This step is mainly creates a high quality, smooth surface for gilding.
The second step of priming on the Bronze Buddha based on the first layer of puttying
3. Applying the adhesive sizing on the surface
Adhesive sizing application must be very carefulness and keep evenness, and avoid "pooling" in ornamental surfaces and recessed areas.
Adhesive sizing application is one of the most important step during gilding
4. Testing “ tack” of the adhesive sizing
This step is perhaps the key important phase in achieving a properly gilt surface, how dry the adhesive is before you apply gold leaf also determines what kind of surface effect you want to achieve. The drying process of adhesive sizing is also a natural transition. But the best gilding time is before the adhesive dries completely, that means the sizing is not wet but tacky. Therefore it requires a very professional and senior master to grasp this gilding technique.
5. Covering with 24 kt gold leaf
The purity of the gold foil determines its durability and life size. So normally we are more recommend genuine 24kt gold foil used on the bronze Buddha surface. After attaching the gold leaf on the whole surface and insure there is no “holiday” or “gaps”, use the mop brush to dust off any excess gold. But pay attention, do not excessive brushed, in other words, be fairly comprehensive but allowed to leave a small amount of gold dust. The reason is the adhesive sizing is still soft, and your gold leaf may becomes dull if a aggressive polished on the surface
The best operation is completed the application of gold foil on the surface at night and do final “polish” work next day that is dust off the excess gold work. Besides, soft cotton is also can be used to clean the surface and creates a burnished gold appearance.
Attaching the 24kt gold leaf on the Bronze Buddha Statue surface
6. Sealing the surface with protective paints
There is no need to seal with protective paints for 24kt gold leaf, but normally for outdoor and high traffic areas, we can require a clear and coat sealer to keep the surface far from scratched and human damages.
That is the whole process of how to apply gold leaf on a bronze Buddha Statue.
24kt gold leaf Bronze Buddha Statue of Ksitiang Bodhisattva
