Kolner Poliment
Poliment, also known as bole (or bolus), is a refined clay-based material used in traditional water gilding to enhance both the tone and brilliance of gold leaf. Acting as a crucial intermediary layer, poliment enriches the warmth of the gold while allowing it to be polished and burnished to a high, mirror-like finish. Its subtle coloration, often in red, yellow, or other earth tones, can influence the final appearance of the gilded surface.
In poliment gilding, this clay layer is applied over a properly prepared ground, typically gesso made from chalk and glue. Together, the gesso and poliment create a smooth, absorbent foundation that allows the gold leaf to adhere and be burnished. Using an agate burnisher, the gilded surface is compressed and polished, producing the luminous, reflective quality associated with traditional gilding techniques.
Kölner Classic Poliment is an unbound poliment, meaning it must be mixed with a binder such as hide glue, rabbit skin glue, gelatin, or egg white before use. Supplied as a ready-to-mix paste, it offers flexibility for traditional preparation methods while maintaining consistency in application. Poliment gilding should only be carried out on absorbent surfaces, where the prepared ground allows the gold leaf to properly adhere and be finished to its full brilliance.
