GOLD-BEATING. The malleability and extreme divisibility of gold are the foundation of the art of gold-beating. In consequence of the wonderful extension which the gold-beater is enabled to give to this precious metal, it is employed for ornamental purposes to an extent which; from its comparative scarcity, would oth erwise be impossible. Thus, it is esti mated that an equestrian statue, of the natural size, may be gilded with a piece of gold not exceeding in value $3. The gilding of the dome of the Hotel des Inva lids at Paris cost but £3500. And in In dia, where it is common to gild towers, bridges, gates, and colossal idols, it is known to be attended with still less ex pense, In gold-beating the gold used is as pure as possible, and the operation is commenced with masses weighing about two oz. These are beaten into plates six or eight inches long, by three quarters of an inch wide. They are then passed be tween steel rollers, till they become as thin as paper. Each one of these is now cut into 150 pieces, and forged on an an vil till it is about an inch square, after which they are well annealed. Each of the squares in this state weighs 6.4 grs., i and thickness is equal to 1-766th of an inch. The 150 plates of gold, thus pro duced from one mass, are interlaid with pieces of very fine vellum, about four inches square, and about 20 vellum leaves are placed on the outside ; the whole is then put into a ease of parch ment, over which is drawn another simi lar case, so that the packet is kept close and tight on all sides. It is now laid on
a smooth block of marble, and the work man begins the beating with a round faced hammer, of 16 lbs ; the packet is turned, occasionally, upside down, and beaten with strong strokes, till the gold is extended nearly to an equality with the vellum leaves. The packet is then taken to pieces, and each leaf of gold is divided into four with a steel knife. The 600 pieces, thus produced, are interlaid with pieces of animal membrane, from the in testines of the the seine dimension, and in the same manner as the vellum. The beating is continued, but with a lighter hammer, about 12 lbs., till the gold is brought to the seine dimensions as the interposed membrane. It is now again divided into four, by means of a piece of cane, cut to an edge. The 2400 leaves hence resulting are parted into threepackets, with interposed membrane as before, and beaten with the finishing, or gold hammer. The packets are now taken to pieces, and the gold leaves, by means of a cane instrument and the breath, are laid flat on a cushion of lea ther, and cut, one by one, to an even square, by a cane frame ; they are lastly la) 4 in books of 25 leaves each, the paper of which is previously smoothed, and rubbed with red bole, to prevent them from adhering.