The art of beating gold leaf and gilding dates back to ancient Egypt. Traditionally craftsmen pounded gold for hours to create sheets thin enough to cover the most finely detailed surfaces. For over 22 centuries from Tutankhamun’s sarcophagus to Rachel Whiteread’s gilded frieze for the Whitechapel Gallery, skilled artisans have exploited paper-thin metal leaf to enrich materials such as wood, metal, marble, leather, paper, glass, porcelain and textiles – even food and drink.
Joanna Mabbutt is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers and Freeman of the City of London. Jo is a decorative artist who gilds antique lace and crochet; she trained in wood graining, marbling, gilding, specialist paint finishes and interior design and was awarded the City & Guilds Silver Medal for Excellence in 2000. She now divides her time as a designer/maker, lecturer and tutor running workshops for specialist groups.
Doors and the bar at Thornden Hall Arts Centre open from 18.45; talks start at 19.30 and last an hour with additional time for questions. Free for members: visitors please pay £8 on the day at the signing in desk: card only.
For more information about the Arts Society Southampton and to enquire about annual membership please visit www.theartssocietysouthampton.org.uk or email
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Image: Gustave Klimt, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, 1907, held at Neue Galerie, New York
Also check out other Arts events in Eastleigh, Workshops in Eastleigh.
