All Souls Bar Glass Gilding
We gilded the windows and transom for All Souls Bar in Washington, DC. The lettering is 23 karat double gold leaf with a black painted outline and shadow. We make our glass gilding at our shop in Edgewater, Maryland, and finish it on site. The steps below show how this project came together.
How We Did the All Souls Bar Glass Gilding
Step 1 – Outline the Lettering
First, we use a stencil to apply the outline of the lettering to the interior surface of the clear glass window. This part of the job is tricky. We remove the stencil slowly and carefully, piece by piece, to keep a clean edge on the outline.
Step 2 – Apply the Gold Leaf by Hand
Next, we apply 23 karat double gold leaf to the interior surface of the glass. This step takes most of the day. The photo below shows how the window looks from the outside at this stage. We apply at least two layers of gold leaf, then a third round of touch-up gold to cover any pinholes or blemishes. The gold sticks to the whole window, so we remove the excess later.
Step 3 – Back Up the Gold with Black Paint
Then Brendon Brandon applies thick black backup paint to the interior surface of the letters. The paint protects the gold leaf while we remove the excess.
Step 4 – Remove the Excess Gold
Once the backup paint is dry, we use a soft brush to remove the excess gold from the glass around the letters. A soft touch is required, because the lettering could be damaged if the brush is used too aggressively. The final result is 23 karat double gold leaf letters with a black painted outline and shadow.
About All Souls Bar
All Souls Bar is a neighborhood bar in Washington, DC, that opened in 2013. To learn more, visit the All Souls Bar website.
Contact Designs & Signs
The quickest way to get started on your project is to send us an email.
We can also be reached by phone at (410) 798-5115.