Gold-Beating

Preparation of gold-leaf by hammering. A thinne has been attained of 367,500 leaves to the inch, and a grain of gold can be made to cover 52 sq. in. In gold-beating handwork has not yet been displaced by machinery. The metal is rolled into foil, cut into small pieces, placed in a pile with parchment paper between, and reduced in thickne with a flat-headed hammer. The thin metal is again subdivided and hammered in a pile with gold-beaters' skin between. One grain of gold gives 52 sq. in. of leaf.