HERE IS AN INSIGHT INTO THE ARTIST BEHIND THE BESPOKE HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS AND VERY BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES AND FINISHES WE EMPLOY…
Having practised decorative painting and gilding for the interior design trade since 1987, I decided to start designing my own contemporary mirrors and furniture in 1998. I studied in Venice and London to further expand and refine my knowledge of techniques, whilst also working on many prestigious projects for top interior designers, architects, and private clients around the World.
"My aim is to produce beautiful pieces that can be handed down to future generations. Every one of my pieces carries my personal touch, reflecting the creativity that comes from a deep understanding of both contemporary and traditional techniques. The end result: interiors that look and feel like works of art".
This is a white plaster-like material. It is a combination of natural chalk powder, glue size and water. Many coats are applied (from 6 to sometimes as many as 20) to the entire surface of the frame. The purpose of the gesso is to fill the grain of wood and to provide a smooth surface foundation to gild and later burnish. Once the gesso has dried it is then sanded to a fine surface to become as smooth as alabaster.
Clay Bole is mixed with glue size and water and brushed over the gesso using anywhere from one to 10 coats. When dry the bole is rubbed back and burnished to an almost water-like appearance. Clay Bole comes in a variety of colours including ochre, red, black, orange, blue and green and affect the tone of the gold leaf once it is laid. Another reason for bole is to act as a slightly water resistant surface cushion on which to lay the fine leaf.
This is the most beautiful and skilful of all the applied gold leaf techniques, Katharine Knight uses this in her exceptional mirror designs. The origin dates as far back as the ancient Egyptians, about 3,500 years ago. Traditional water gilding uses loose leaf which comes in books containing 25 leaves and measures 80mm x 80mm per leaf.
To obtain the incredibly thin gold leaf the gold is beaten between hydraulic presses to a thickness of 0.0001mm thick. Gold leaf comes in various shades ranging from yellows to orange to red. There are also many different forms of leaf ranging from gold, platinum, palladium, white gold and silver. It comes either as a transfer leaf or as loose leaf.
