Keum boo earings

[chassroc]

These are gold over silver.

Very simple but effective.

Started with sterling silver...rolled with sandpaper for the surface finish...depleted to pure by repeated annealing and pickling...

Placed on a hot plate ... 24k gold leaf applied and pressed onto hot surface(I believe the magic temp is around 500 degrees F. Formed the ear wires and formed a nugold tube for the finding 

A simple piece but nice for holiday parties and elegant occasions

Charlie

[gemfeller]

Really nice! I like that effect. Applying the gold leaf looks like it could be a little tricky though.

Rick

[Deleted]

I am not very elegant so they would probably not look so good on me but they sure are pretty. Doesn't look that simple to me.
Jim

[Deleted]

Charlie - those are spectacular! Nice work all the way around. Love the texture, really love it. I specially love how you achieved it, "rolled over sandpaper". Does this allow for using different grit papers for slightly different effect?

Keum-boo (also Kum-Boo or Kum-bu - Korean is an ancient Korean gilding technique used to apply thin sheets of gold to silver, to make silver-gilt. Traditionally, this technique is accomplished by first depleting the surface of sterling silver to bring up a thin layer of fine silver. Then 24 carat gold foil is applied with heat and pressure - mechanical gilding - to produce a permanent diffusion bond.
Pure precious metals such as gold and silver have a very similar atomic structure and therefore have a good potential for bonding. Heating these metals to a temperature between 500-700°F increases the movement of the atoms. When pressure is added, this causes an electron exchange at the surface between the two metals, creating a permanent diffusion bond. This diffusion bond occurs far below the soldering temperature for either metal. (Dhein, 2004)
Examples of this technique have probably been observed, but not positively identified on pieces from the second half of the first millennium B.C. and from the early first millennium A.D. (Oddy,1981)
This technique is used in many cultures, including Chinese, Japanese and in the West to bond gold to other metals, including iron, copper, aluminum, gold alloys, white gold, palladium and platinum. Foil made from gold alloys can be applied to silver and other metals by first depletion gilding the surface of the foil. (Lewton-Brain, 1987–1993)

Thanks also for sharing the technique.

Would you consider a tute? step by step images? Please and thank you.

[cardiobill]

Charlie
Very, very nice
I'm with Shotgunner- love the texture
I think they are stupendous
Bill

[connrock]

I think they're awesome Charlie!
connrock

[chassroc]

Thanks for all the kind words.

I love the Keum Boo technique.

When the underlying piece is the right temp, the gold leaf adheres with slight pressure.
You have to get all the bubbles out...so you press from the center to the outside, can be tricky and you have to press with a blunt point(oxymoron) to prevent tearing.

The rolling was done with a rolling mill, and yes, different effects from different grades. I believe that was 400 grit wet dry paper.

I will do a tutorial the next time I work with this medium.

charlie

[pghram]

Very beautiful, thanks for sharing.

Rich

[bsky4463]

Great work...I really look forward to any tutorial you would share on the process. Cheers