Gold Leaf Gilding

"The origins of the art of gilding date back to the Sumerians and the Egyptians some 3,500 years ago. They discovered that gold could be beaten into thin sheets and then applied to surfaces. There are records that show that the Chinese, Greek and Roman civilisations also used gilding to embellish their work, ranging from furniture and ornaments to architecture."
Rodrigo and Rosaria Titian