For gilding on glass, isinglass and distilled water are used; sometimes a little pure spirit of wine is added, but nut necessarily, as the best results can be obtained with the distilled water and isinglass alone • these must be boiled for about live minutes and then passed through a filter or whin- blotting paper. Three grains of the best isinglass to 6 fluid oz.ot distilled water make a good gilding strength. The liquid is then, by means of a broad camel-hair brush, floated upon the glass which must be placed in a slanting position.When still wet the gold is laid on from a gilder stip and cushion, and after it has been allowed to dry it is gently rubbed with a piece of fine wadding and the cracks or joints touehed up. A second applieation of the gold leaf gives more solidity and makes a better job. It is now burnished again with the wadding and bathed with lukewarm water to bring up the burnish, drying with blotting paper. When thoroughly dry, burnish again, and then with a size brush dipped in water, with the heat increased each time, go over the gold again, thus giving it a third bath. It is then again rubbed and finally coated on the back with gilding size, which, when dry, is rubbed with the cotton.

It is then ready for cutting into shape, which is done with a strip of wood cut like a chisel. When the letters have been cut they may be backed with Japan gold size or ordinary black japan, or a mixture of the two. For small ornaments such as corners, paint directly on the gold with the japan and when thoroughly dry, rub off the superfluous gold to leave the gold figures on the glass.