Amdavadi paints world golden
http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/2011041120110411031051780699d92d8/Amdavadi-paints-world-golden.html
Iqbal Warakhwala, who has applied gold-gilt to several popular statues in the world, wants to gild Sardar Vallabhai Patel’s statue which when installed near Kevadiya colony will be tallest in the world
Hemington James
Marconi’s memorial in Washington and Lady Diana Memorial in Paris share one thing in common — their gilder Iqbal Warakhwala. A gilder from Amdavad, Warakhwala has gilded statues of several famous personalities around the world. It is now his ambition to gild Sardar Patel’s statue to be installed at Kevadia colony. When put up, the statue will be the tallest in the world.
Iqbal Warakhwala has gilded statues like the Cavalry in White House (centre) and Guglielmo Marconi’s memorial (Right) in Washington. Warakhwala uses 24 carat gold in his works
Warakhwala, 68, stays near Relief Road and has been in the gilding business for 15 years. Even before him, his family has been in the same business for 150 years. His ancestors used to apply gold on the clothes made for royal families. However, as mercury (which is hazardous) was used to do this, Warakhwala thought of discontinuing the vocation. After working for more than 30 years in a private company, Warakhwala decided to gild statues.
He asked his son Adil to get him information on institutes that trained people in the art of gilding. That is when he found out about the Smithsonian Gilding Conference in Washington.
He attended the conference and later interned with some senior gilders before starting his own business.
Warakhwala owns Jasmine Arts and Antiques. And he is an incorporated associate member of International Society of Gilders, North America. In 15 years, he has gilded around 21 well known buildings and statutes around the world.
Speaking about his vocation, Warkhwala said, “Gold has the power to suggest richness and splendor. Gilding is the adornment on a surface with pure gold leaf. Gilding creates a warmth and lustre that is unachievable with any other paint or material. It transforms the ordinary into the remarkable. It adds distinction to what may otherwise be overlooked. The magnificent process of gilding creates an exciting, sensuous and elegant environment.”
A brush made out of a furry animal found in Nepal costs Rs 3085. Warakhwala makes the 0.2 mm gold foil in his own factory
It’s durable
“Gilding is very durable and carries beautiful finish for remote architectural feature such as Domes and finials, as these features receive maintenance infrequently. Gold, the most stable of elements does not combine with any other element, most notably oxygen, and thus will not get tarnished or corroded.”
According to Warakhwala, in the history of gilding, ancient pharaohs were very keen on gilding statues. The pyramids of Egypt and the objects in it are the best example of gilding. “At present before putting gold paper over the object we apply chemicals but in the time of the pharaohs, the artists were using human blood as chemical after processing it,” said Warakhwala.
The gold paper used to gild the statues are manufactured in Warakhwala’s factory in Ahmedabad. It is made from raw gold. Each paper weighs 0.2 grams. The materials used for gilding are expensive. One of the brushes used for the work is made from squirrels hair while another made out of a furry animal found in Nepal costs $ 70 (approx Rs 3085). Gilding is an art which is also my hobby.” Warakhwala said.
The gold sheet applied on the object for gilding is made of 24 carat gold. Speaking about his ambition to gild Sardar Patel’s statue, Warakhwala said, “When I came to know that Narendra Modi had commissioned the tallest statue of Sardar Patel in the world , I decided to offer them my expertise as the gilding increases the life of the object. The gilding stays intact for at least 50 years. I have written a letter to the chief minister’s office seeking permission,” said Warakhwala.
What is Gilding
The term gilding covers a number of decorative techniques for applying fine gold paper or powder to solid surfaces such as wood, stone, or metal to give a thin coating of gold. A gilded object is described as ‘gilt’.
In the west, metals were traditionally applied with silver gilt or ‘vermeil’ objects, but gilt-bronze is extensively used in China. Methods of gilding include hand application and gluing, chemical gilding, and electroplating which is also popularly known as gold plating. Parcel-gilt objects are only gilded over part of their surfaces. This may mean that all of the inside, and none of the outside, of a chalice or similar vessel is gilded, or that patterns or images are made up by using a combination of gilt and ungilt areas.
Iqbal Warakhwala, who has applied gold-gilt to several popular statues in the world, wants to gild Sardar Vallabhai Patel’s statue which when installed near Kevadiya colony will be tallest in the world
Hemington James
Marconi’s memorial in Washington and Lady Diana Memorial in Paris share one thing in common — their gilder Iqbal Warakhwala. A gilder from Amdavad, Warakhwala has gilded statues of several famous personalities around the world. It is now his ambition to gild Sardar Patel’s statue to be installed at Kevadia colony. When put up, the statue will be the tallest in the world.
Iqbal Warakhwala has gilded statues like the Cavalry in White House (centre) and Guglielmo Marconi’s memorial (Right) in Washington. Warakhwala uses 24 carat gold in his works
Warakhwala, 68, stays near Relief Road and has been in the gilding business for 15 years. Even before him, his family has been in the same business for 150 years. His ancestors used to apply gold on the clothes made for royal families. However, as mercury (which is hazardous) was used to do this, Warakhwala thought of discontinuing the vocation. After working for more than 30 years in a private company, Warakhwala decided to gild statues.
He asked his son Adil to get him information on institutes that trained people in the art of gilding. That is when he found out about the Smithsonian Gilding Conference in Washington.
He attended the conference and later interned with some senior gilders before starting his own business.
Warakhwala owns Jasmine Arts and Antiques. And he is an incorporated associate member of International Society of Gilders, North America. In 15 years, he has gilded around 21 well known buildings and statutes around the world.
Speaking about his vocation, Warkhwala said, “Gold has the power to suggest richness and splendor. Gilding is the adornment on a surface with pure gold leaf. Gilding creates a warmth and lustre that is unachievable with any other paint or material. It transforms the ordinary into the remarkable. It adds distinction to what may otherwise be overlooked. The magnificent process of gilding creates an exciting, sensuous and elegant environment.”
A brush made out of a furry animal found in Nepal costs Rs 3085. Warakhwala makes the 0.2 mm gold foil in his own factory
It’s durable
“Gilding is very durable and carries beautiful finish for remote architectural feature such as Domes and finials, as these features receive maintenance infrequently. Gold, the most stable of elements does not combine with any other element, most notably oxygen, and thus will not get tarnished or corroded.”
According to Warakhwala, in the history of gilding, ancient pharaohs were very keen on gilding statues. The pyramids of Egypt and the objects in it are the best example of gilding. “At present before putting gold paper over the object we apply chemicals but in the time of the pharaohs, the artists were using human blood as chemical after processing it,” said Warakhwala.
The gold paper used to gild the statues are manufactured in Warakhwala’s factory in Ahmedabad. It is made from raw gold. Each paper weighs 0.2 grams. The materials used for gilding are expensive. One of the brushes used for the work is made from squirrels hair while another made out of a furry animal found in Nepal costs $ 70 (approx Rs 3085). Gilding is an art which is also my hobby.” Warakhwala said.
The gold sheet applied on the object for gilding is made of 24 carat gold. Speaking about his ambition to gild Sardar Patel’s statue, Warakhwala said, “When I came to know that Narendra Modi had commissioned the tallest statue of Sardar Patel in the world , I decided to offer them my expertise as the gilding increases the life of the object. The gilding stays intact for at least 50 years. I have written a letter to the chief minister’s office seeking permission,” said Warakhwala.
What is Gilding
The term gilding covers a number of decorative techniques for applying fine gold paper or powder to solid surfaces such as wood, stone, or metal to give a thin coating of gold. A gilded object is described as ‘gilt’.
In the west, metals were traditionally applied with silver gilt or ‘vermeil’ objects, but gilt-bronze is extensively used in China. Methods of gilding include hand application and gluing, chemical gilding, and electroplating which is also popularly known as gold plating. Parcel-gilt objects are only gilded over part of their surfaces. This may mean that all of the inside, and none of the outside, of a chalice or similar vessel is gilded, or that patterns or images are made up by using a combination of gilt and ungilt areas.
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