Customer Reviews

Secreta: Three Methods for Laying Gold Leaf

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Secreta is easy to understand, well organized, and has a lot of excellent drawings and photographs of the steps involved in gilding. It also has some historical background on how gilding was used, as well as a nice little section on using the paint pigments that would have accompanied the gilding on medieval manuscripts. One of the few how-to books that I've read cover to cover, and have recommended to my friends who already do gilding or are interested in learning.

Heather Gray

As a practicing medieval illuminator and historical bookbinder, I can recommend wholeheartedly Ms. Grafe's fantastic book on gilding. The book is well written and contains many valuable illustrations to accompany somewhat complicated procedures. I especially appreciate the easy to follow, clear, detailed steps for the gesso gilding process which is very time consuming (but worth every minute) and its success depends on many factors which can be a challenge to someone just starting. She gives the tips and pointers that only an experienced gilder could pass on to help with the environmental influences and other things which can stifle success. It is an excellent resource material for anyone who is fascinated in book arts but especially useful for someone who wants to improve and perfect their technique in gilding paper and parchment.

If you have an interest in this art-form then you want to do it the way it has been done for hundreds of years. This little book shows you the way of the masters down through the centuries. To recreate the beauty that has been held timeless in illuminated manuscripts, thus adding to it's number, is a fine thing thing to accomplish in a lifetime.