Art's master-piece, or, A companion for the ingenious of either sex ... by C.K.

The Art of Gilding Mettals.

To Prepare the Gold.

Take Ducket, or Leaf Gold, what quantity you desire, ob∣serve to beat the Ducket very thin, and put this Gold with as much Quick-silver as will just cover it into a Gally-Pot, where let them continue half an hour, where immediately after the mixture stir them with a stick, then strain them through a piece of Leather, squeezing with your hand till you have forced out as much Quick-silver as you can in∣dustriously do, so that what re∣mains in the Leather, looks more like Silver than Gold, yet this only must be employed in Gild∣ing after the following manner.

To Gild with Gold, Silver, Copper, Brass, Princes Mettal, &c.

Brush first your Mettal well, with a Wire Brush, wet it with Water or Beer, and brush on till the dirtiness or filth be quite removed, that the Gold may more closely join it, prepare then your Quick-silver, by mix∣ing it with a little Aquafortis in a Vial, three or four drops of the Aquafortis to an ounce of the Quick-silver, quicken your Work with it, viz. rub it over with a Rag or your Finger, till it appears all Silvered, or touched. This done,

Take your prepared Gold, and with a small Knife, or Iron Tool proper to the purpose, spread, or overlay the whole piece, omitting no part, give it two or three little heats, be∣fore

you give it a thorough heat, so that with a Hair Brush like a Comb Brush, you may dab and spread your Gold, these little heats making the Quick-silver more ready to comply; then give it the thorough-heat, which will compel the Mercury or Quick-silver to evaporate or fly away, then take it from the Fire, and with a scrub Brush, untouched with Quick-silver, cleanse it as at first; if you per∣ceive any untouched spot of Quick-silver, the Gold must be laid on it again, when it is clean∣sed with a scratch Brush, and after this manner you may heighten its colour if you see it necessary.

To heighten the colour of Gold.

Take an equal quantity of Salt Argal and Brimstone, mix them with as much fair Water as will cover the gilded Mettal when put into it, boil them well, and tying your Gilded Mettal in a string, plunge it in for a little space, often plunging, and look∣ing as often on it as you draw it out, and when the colour is heightened to your expectation, dip it in cold water, and the work is done; you may in the foregoing manner double or tre∣ble Gild, till the Gold enriches it to a lasting thickness and colour.

To Counterfeit Tortoiseshell.

To do this well, let the Wood you intend to work on, be very close grained, clean and

smooth wrought off, as Pear∣tree, or the like; but if rough grained, you must Prime it with Whiting, as you are taught in Black Japaning, for coarse grained Woods, Rush it smooth and go over it with Seed Lac-Varnish, the breadth of a Sil∣ver Leaf, which take up with Cotton, and lay on it moist, as close as may be; then wash again, and place on another Leaf of Silver, and so continue till the Wood is over-spread with Silver, and when dry sweep off all the loose Silver with a hair brush, then finely grind Collins Earth, and m•••• it with Gum Water or Common Size, and with this, havit, added more Size or Gum Wat•••• than it was ground withal, S•••• or Cloud the Ground-Wor•• having a fine, true, natural Shell by you to imitate, and

when this is done, you will per∣ceive several Reds, lighter and and darker, appear on the edges of the Black, and many times lye in streaks on the transpa∣rent part of the Shell; to imi∣tate this finely, grind Sanguis Draconis with Gum water, and with a fine Pencil draw those warm Reds, flushing it in about the dark places more thick, but fainter, thinner, and lesser of co∣lour towards the lighter parts, so sweetening it, that it may in a manner lose the Red, being sunk in, in the Silver, or more transparent parts.

VVhen it is done and dried, give at least six washes of Seed Lac-Varnish, and when it has continued twenty four hours, Rush it gently, and when it is smooth, and fit for the second operation, grind Gambogium very finely in an equal small

quantity, put these into as much Seed Lac-Varnish, as will serve to wash it another six times, then let it stand twelve hours, and give it the third Varnishing, and with the last mixture wash it so often, that the Silver is changed to a Golden colour, and the work is done.

To Dye Wood a curious Red.

The VVood that takes this colour must be very white, and to begin it put a handful of Al∣lom in a moderate Kettle of water, and cast your wood into it, and when well soaked, take it out, and put in two hand∣fuls of Rasped Brasil-wood, and when that has boiled well, put the wood in again for a quarter of an hours boiling, and it will take the colour.

To Stain a curious Yellow.

In this case, take the knotty Ash or Bur, that is very white, knotty and curled, Smooth and Rush it very well, and when it is well warmed, wash it over with a Brush dipped in Aqua∣fortis, then hold it to the fire till it desists to smoke, Rush it again when dry, then Pollish it, and Varnish it with Seed-Lac, and it will be of a curious colour, not inferiour to any Out∣landish Yellow wood, and if you put filings or bits of Metal, as Copper, Brass, &c. each Me∣tal will produce a different tin∣cture.

To Stain or Dye Wood Black.

Boil Logwood in Water or Vinegar, and two or three

times Brush or Stain your Wood with it when very hot, then take Nut-Galls and Copperas, bruise them well, and boil them in Water, and with it Wash or Stain your Wood so often till it be a perfect Black, or rather steep it in the hot Liquor if you can put it in, and the Dye will penetrate the better.

To Dye or Stain Wood for Inlaying of Flowers or other things in Ca∣binets.

Get moist new Horse-Dung, and squeeze out the moisture through a Cloth, put it into se∣veral small Vessels fit for your purpose, and dissolve Gum A∣rabick, and Roach Allom, each the quantity of a Walnut, and with these mix Reds, Greens, Blues, or any Colour that is sutable to the work, stir them

often three or four 〈…〉〈…〉 then take your Wood, particularly Pear-tree for VVhite, cut into the thickness of half-crowns, or so much as will suffice any Inlayed work, and in a square or length, according to your desire, boil up the Liquors or Colours very hot, and put in the VVood till the Colour has well taken; some indeed you may take out sooner, that the Colour being less strong, may the better agree with your par∣ticoloured Flowers, Shading and the like.

To Dye or Stain, Ivory, Bone or Horn Red.

Soak fine Lime about twelve hours in fair Rain VVater, then pour off the VVater well from the settling through a Linnen Cloth, and to each Pint put

half an ounce of Rasped Brasil wood, and having boiled your materials in Allom water, boil it in this, and it will give a cu∣rious tincture.

To Stain Horn, Bone, Wood or Ivo∣ry Green.

Prepare your materials, by first boiling in Allom-water, then grind the common thick Verdigrise, or Spanish Green, a moderate quantity, adding half as much Sal-Armoniack, and put them into the sharpest VVine Vinegar, as also the materials you intend to Stain, and keep them there hot till they have taken a good tincture.

To Stain or Dye, Horn, Box or Ivory a curious Black.

To do this, put small pieces of Brasil VVood into Aqua∣fortis, and so continue them, till they appear green, then wash well your materials in them, and boil Logwood in VVater, into which put them whilst they are warm, and in a little time the Ivory, &c. will be of a curious Black, so that being Pollished it will look like Ebony or Japan, and if you would have any part for Flow∣ers, or the like remain white, draw them before staining with Turpentine Varnish, and the black will not touch them, and afterward you may hetch them, and clear up with Oil and Lamp-black.

To Stain Skins Green.

Bruise a good quantity of the Leaves of Night-shade very well, dissolve in the Juice well strained out about two ounces of Allom, then put in half an ounce of Verdigrise, suffer them to stand over a very gentle fire twenty four hours, then warm, dip in a Brush, and strike over your Skins, let it dry, and repeat it till it has taken a pleasant Green.

An approved way to colour White Leather.

These Skins must be hung in Lime or Chalk VVater, that the VVool or Hair may be en∣tirely stripped off, and they be∣come supple, stretch them smooth on Tenters, brush them

over with Allom-water very warm, and so tincture them with the Colours you design, sutable to your purpose.

To put a curious Black on Leather.

Take two pound of the in∣ward Bark of an Old Elder, the like quantity of the Rust or Fi∣lings of Iron, put these into two gallons of Rain-Water, and close them right up in a Vessel, and when they have stood about six weeks, put in a pound of Nut galls well bruised, a quar∣ter of a pound of Copperas, let them simper a considerable time over a fire, and after twenty four hours standing, and often stir∣ring, pour out the Liquid part, and go over your Leather with it warm, and it produces a cu∣rious German Black.

To colour Leather a Bright Red.

Dip your Leather first in Al∣lom water, and rub it well therein, then take stale Urin, boil it till it is half consumed, scum it well, and put to it an ounce of the best Lake, Rasped Brazil wood two ounces, and an ounce of Allom, add to these half an ounce of Sal Armoniack, stir them well-over a moderate fire two hours, pour off the Li∣quid part, and brush over your Skins with it, till it takes a good tincture, remembring e∣ver to let the Skins in all Co∣lours dry well, between each going over with your brush, and your expectation will be answered to a very considerable advantage.

A curious French Yellow for Skins.

Take Wood-Ashes and Chalk, of each a like quantity, and then you have made a good Ley with Rain water, strain out the finest part, and set it over the fire, then put in a sufficient quantity of Turme∣rick well bruised or beaten to Powder, and as much Saffron as may give a lively Tincture, let it stand over a moderate fire, but not boil, till it becomes pretty thick, and being warm colour the Skins with it.

For a deep Blue, or Purple.

Strain out the Juice of Elder-Berries, put to two quarts, an ounce of Allom, half an ounce of Smalt or Indico, set these over a gentle fire, and when

warm, brush your Leather o∣ver with this composition.

For a Crimson Colour.

Dissolve Cake-Soap in Fair Water and Bole Armoniack, each three ounces, place them over a gentle fire till the Liquor grows clammy, then put in a little handful of Grains of Co∣chineal, two ounces of Red-Lead, an ounce of Lake, and a quarter of an ounce of Vermil∣lion, a little piece of Indico, mix these well over a gentle fire, till they are the thickness of the glear of an Egg, then go over the Skins with a soft brush dipped into it, till the Colour arises to your mind.

To Imitate the Turkey-Blue.

Take two ounces of Smalt, a quarter of a pint of Red Wine, half a pint of Vinegar, an ounce of White Starch, incorporate these over a gentle fire, till they come to a moderate thickness, then soak the Skins with Allom Water; add to the composition a pint of Water, wherein Gum Arabick has been dissolved, and stir it well, go over the Skins three times, drying them be∣tween whiles, and when well dryed, Pollish them over to render them glossy.

For a Light Green.

Take the Juice of the Herb called Horse-tail, add to it a little Allom, Verdigrise and Copperas.

To Cover or Dress-Skins with Gold or Silver.

Grind Brown-red with a Mul∣ler, on a Marble Stone, add to liquidate it a little Water wherein Chalk has been dissol∣ved, and lightly go over the Skins, till they look whitish, and before they are dry lay on the Leaf Gold or Silver, a little lapped over one another, that no space be found wanting, and when they stick well to the Leather, and are dry, Pollish them over with smooth Ivory, or a Horses Tooth, and it will give a very glorious Lustre; the Silver you may Lacker over with Lacker Varnish, and change it into a Golden Co∣lour.

Or another way, take Gleer of Eggs, or Gum-water, brush

the Skins over with it, and lay on your Leaf Gold or Silver, doing as before.

To make Skins look Shining; without Silver or Gold.

Take Gum water, the Gleer of Eggs, and the Powder of Antimony, grind and mix them well together, and the Skins ••eing dry, lay it on them with a Brush three or four times, let∣ting them dry every time be∣tween; then burnish them over, and they will have a curious gloss like Silver, which tinctu∣red with Lacker Varnish will produce a Fading Gold Colour.

To Dye Bristles a Red Colour.

To Dye Bristles a Red Colour.

Take half an ounce of Allom, a quarter of an onnce of Ver∣million,

and an ounce of Raspe Brasil-wood, put these into pint of Vinegar, and boil the moderately thick, and dip the Bristles when it is very ho•• and continuing there a time they will be a fine Red; you ma•• make larger quantities of the Li∣quor, with ingredients propor∣tionable; and thus Dye Feather.

Feathers or Bristles Green.

Take Verditur and Verdi grise, each an ounce, put them into a pint of water, soak the Feathers or Bristles in hot wa∣ter, and then put them into this Liquor boiling-hot, and let them remain till they have ta∣ken a good colour, and so ac∣cording to the complexion of your Dyes, you may Colour them this way any Colour.

For Blue, let your Dyes be Indico and Bise.

For Black, Galls and Log∣••ood, with a little Copperas.

For Purple, Lake and Indico.

For Carnation, Smalt, and Vermillion.

For Yellow, Yellow-Berries and Saffron, dissolving a little Tartar in your water.

For Orange, Turmerick and Red Lead, and so of any other Colours you fancy.