Insect Art and The Gilding Process

Martin Pierce is currently creating 18 gilded panels which will be used as decorative door panels for the front door of his home. Similar framed panels will be available for sale thereafter and we hope to announce those details soon.

Martin is currently at the gilding stage of the process which is what we show in this post. The raised panels are all beetles and the 5 distinct shapes are all from the gymnetis family of beetle. The beetles were chosen for their different body and wing shapes as well as color and will be applied to the door to create an artistic pattern.

The gilding process is used by Martin to create a bright iridescent surface which roughly simulates the iridescence that in beetles is created by the cell structure of their exoskeletons and the way it reflects light. Color will subsequently be added through translucent pigmented glazes.

Gilding brush used to pick-up with gold leaf Brush used to position leaf over wondersize

Once a smooth surface has been created by applying and then sanding a layer of casein (see earlier post) the panel is then painted with a layer of semi-clear wondersize which acts like glue to fix the leaf in place. As a practical matter Martin paints the entire panel and water spots most of the outer area  before he begins gilding, this way he does not have to paint around small legs and antennae and the water spots that fall on the insect body can be easily removed with a cloth.

Martin’s fondness of beetles and insects can be seen in his cabinet pulls.

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How do you feel about free stuff?

When we say free, we mean absolutely free.  And while our hand-cast, custom hardware items hardly fall into the category of "stuff" we are offering a giveaway this May.  All you have to do is stop by our booth #4659 at the 2014 HD Expo and say hello.  The first ten visitors will receive one of the following: One of our medium sized scarab drawer pulls.  These creatures have an interesting and mystical history behind them that will add a touch of the exotic to your desk, closet or anywhere you decide to use this beautiful hardware.

For those who prefer a touch of springtime, our beautifully detailed dragonfly pull will add a piece of the garden to a writing desk or a hint of whimsy to the powder room.

First come, first served and we look forward to visiting with all of you.

To view our entire collection of custom architectural hardware, visit our site at www.martinpierce.com

Martin Pierce Custom Hardware: You won't need any bugspray for these critters

Bugs and other garden critters are one of those things you either love or you hate.  But there is nothing creepy about our hardware collection of bugs, butterflies, bees and the occasional frog or lizard.  This lizard pull from our Animal collection would delight any budding young scientist in your family or add an unexpected greeting to the entryway of your nursery or pet shop business.

Our bright and shiny frog pull is always a popular giveaway in our HD Expo booth every year. 

Ancient Egyptians used the scarab beetle as amulets that represented many different Gods, earth cycles etc.  We have designed both a large and small scarab beetle pull that can be incorporated into the interior of your home or business.

If you have visited Hawaii or other tropical areas you are very familiar with the friendly geckos that can be found everywhere.  Relive those pleasant vacation memories with our Gecko pull.

For more information on these new products, view our complete line of hardware and get the latest news on what is happening at Martin Pierce, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com