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GOLD VARNISH.

GOLD VARNISH.

A method to obtain the appearance of gold at a small ex-pense, is called varnishing. All men, desirous of having fur-niture of the appearance of gold, could not afford that valu-able and noble metal; therefore some expedient was necessaryto procure this at a moderate charge. At first gold was, asit now is, hammered into thin plates or leaves; and thosearticles covered with it. 1 Rut as this method of gilding was alsofound expensive, notwithstanding the extreme ductile natureof that metal, and its almost infinite divisibility, as has beenshown in a former article; yet, as the ancients were not sowell acquainted with its properties as are the moderns; alsoconsidering that the metal thus employed was lost; thecolours most resembling gold were then tried ; but as inevery case these could not answer, an idea was in time sug-gested of overlaying with silver, or some cheaper inetal,such things to which they wished to give the appearance ofgold, and then covering it with a yellow transparent varnish,in order that the varnish and metal might assist each other re-ciprocally in producing an effect as nearly similar to gold ascould he. Seneca, speaking of gilding, says, “ When we“ cover our houses with gold, do we not show that we de-“ light in deception! for we know that coarse wood is con-“ cealed under that gold.”

The^ngenious process which is employed all over Europe in gilding wooden frames, coaches, and other articles, notmade of metal, also for the manufacture of leather tapestry,was invented towards the close of the seventeenth century.We understand that Anderson, in his Historical and Chro-nological deductions of the History of Commerce, allegesthat it was first introduced into England by one Evelyn, inthe year 1(533; and he adduces for proof, the present Stateof England, printed in the year 1683.

An author, to whom we have been much obliged, inour opinion, rudely objects at once to this passage of ourcommercial historian, and without the least prepara-tory apology, breaks upon us by roundly asserting,—“ This

* Vide Homer’s Odyssey, lib. iii. v. 432. It is presumed, that with metal soprepared, the horns of ancient sacrifices were ornarucmed ; so were the horns of tirecow, which Nestor brought as an offering to Minerva, decorated. Also the Lace-daemonians being directed by the oracle to gild the face of the statne of Apollo,they inquired where they could procure so much gold, and were directed to Creuus.King of Lydia.