Walking in the neighbourhood of Essex quay recently I chanced upon the workshop of this country's one and only gold-leaf craftsman. For 90 years the metal has been hand-beaten on these premises, in a manner similar to that practised by the ancients.
But trade has been steadily diminishing of late, the proprietor informed me, and now the war has severely handicapped work. This modern world has little need of the craftsman's goldleaf. Neon lights and glass frontages have replaced the gilt letters of other days.
Books of gold-leaf transfers are now the principal product. Such books, each containing 25 small sheets, sell at 3s.3d. which is not excessive, considering the skill required in handling the precious metal.
I was shown an Irish Times, dated 1926, containing a photograph of the workshop and its five craftsmen. That number has since been depleted by four, leaving only my friend to compete against imported gold-leaf.
Incidentally, one ounce of gold is capable of gilding some 1,300 miles of fine wire, while pure gold wire, 1-19th of an inch thick, will support 500 pounds' weight. Also, one ounce of the metal may yield gold leaf sufficient to cover an area of 250 square feet, being in thickness approximately four millionths of an inch.
So, however, you look at it, gold takes some beating!
The Irish Times, January 4th, 1941.