With Gilding Notes: The Traditional English Method, master gilder Judith Wetherall shares her extensive knowledge about gilded wooden objects with the field at large. These are her practical notes, originally devised for her students and continually revised over her forty years of experience as a conservator, instructor, and gilder. As she explains in the introduction, “gilding is a vast and exciting subject, the intricacies of which cannot be encompassed in a written document such as this.” Nevertheless, these notes form an invaluable resource for students learning gilding techniques, practicing gilders, and conservators needing to better understand how the surfaces they treat were created and how they may have aged. Wetherall writes that, with this book, her “intention is to make the craft of gilding accessible, exciting, and richly rewarding.” Readers will enjoy Wetherall’s enthusiasm as they navigate various aspects of the manufacture and conservation of wooden gilded objects. She guides the reader through the various steps of gilding wood, describes materials and tools, and outlines different techniques, including valuable tips and tricks for use in the gilder’s workshop or the conservation lab. Treatment aspects like toning and distressing are also discussed, including alternatives to traditional methods and materials. Though focused on English techniques, Gilding Notes brings a broad perspective to gilding methods and materials, and informs, inspires, and equips the reader to better understand, appreciate, and practice the precious art and science of gilding.