In the Gallery of California Art, experts have covered an entire wall in shimmering gold leaf, providing a novel backdrop for artworks from California’s Gold Rush era. The wall illustrates the beauty and allure of gold.  A member of the art staff explains, "We're demonstrating in a concrete way just what all those prospectors were looking for when they came to California."

Set against this backdrop, visitors will encounter images of the Golden State from the 1800s, as well as portraits of early Californians. Behind the wall of gold, a selection OMCA's daguerrotypes will be on display. In these early photographs, images were formed directly onto silver polished to a mirrored shine. For some of these unlucky prospectors, this gold wall might be the closest they ever come to seeing the "mother lode." 

While mining for gold may be grueling work, applying gold leaf requires a more delicate touch. The gold arrives in 4 inch square segments, each "leaf" measuring merely 0.1 to 0.125 millionths of a meter (or micrometers). The beaten gold is so thin that it is nearly weightless, thin enough to melt between a person's fingers. The slightest breath of air will cause it to wrinkle. To get the job done right, we hired the Professional Gilders Company. They first sanded and cleaned the wall, then applied a "size"—a type of liquid adhesive with a slow drying time. Once the size became tacky, the gilders carefully brushed on the gold leaf, using a combination of their fingers and small soft brushes. It took an entire day's work, but the effect is breathtaking.

The gold wall at the halfway point. Photo: Debra A. Peterson.

One gilder applies gold leaf, while another carefully brushes the leaves to lie flat. Photo: Debra A. Peterson.