Colours of Bole

Water Gilding in White Gold

Distressed Gold

Both of these frames are gilded with 23.5ct gold, the one on the left on red bole, the one on the right is on black bole. The bole colour has a distinct effect on the colour and appearance of the gold leaf. 

These two are both 12xt white gold, one on red and the other on brown bole.

Bole Colours

I've been painting gesso frames with various colours of bole today, ready to be gilded.

Small Gesso and Bole Frame

A small gesso frame that has been painted with grey bole, it will be gilded with 22ct Moon gold leaf.

Colours of Bole

Different frame profiles painted with various colours of bole clay, a good selection of colours are available and the colour chosen has an effect on the tone of the gilding. When distressed this colour is visible, and can be used to complement colours in the work being framed. The shade I use most often is red, but also grey, brown, black, and orange are used a lot, or combinations of colours.

Work in progress...

Here are lots of frames being worked on at the moment, currently at the bole painting stage. This batch of about 15 frames will be finished next week, and then a large exhibition order of 37 gilded and painted frames will be the main focus of work in the workshop. Around this will be the continued cataloguing and inventory work on the recently delivered stock of antique frames, and other jobs that have been waiting very patiently. August and September are pretty much over-flowing with orders, although at least two months work ahead at any one time has been the norm here for the last few years.

A frame painted with yellow bole...

A gesso frame which is being painted with yellow bole, it will be gilded in 12ct white gold.

Work in progress...

Gold on Black

Gold leaf on black bole, distressed, and with a grey colourwash.

Brown bole

A frame painted in dark brown bole which is ready to be gilded.

White gold contemporary frame

Bole clay

Distressed antique gilding

An antique frame with nicely distressed gilding, showing the pink, grey/back boles and down to the gesso, where rubbing and cleaning have worn away through the layers.

Orange bole

Large frame - red bole

Here is a large frame that is being painted with red bole.

Large Carlo Maratta

Oak and composition

This pair of 19th Century oak and composition frames had been overpainted, which was removed, and had some losses that needed to be replaced. Once this work was done the frames were given a size coat of glue, and were then painted all over in yellow bole and pink bole.

Gilding frames...

The photo above shows lots of frames on the rack, either just been gilded in 23.5ct medium deep gold leaf, or are about to be gilded. The frame below has two sections painted with red bole and it will be gilded in 22ct moon gold. This is one of our most used frame profiles, about 2" (50mm) wide, scoop shape with some shape to the inner and outer sections.

Heart corner

Detail of a corner with a pastiglia heart, the frame is painted in grey/pink bole and will be gilded in 12ct white gold. Below is the frame during the the building up of the gesso layers.