Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


-----

Goldpaint on shells/copperised leaves for jewelry

2004

On a market in Moscow, Russia, I purchased some awesome coppered (real)leaves in marvelous hues of blues, greens and yellowish purples. At home I used them to make some nice jewelry pieces. Is it really impossible to copperise leaves at home? The Russian lady didn't seem very 'factory like' and she produced them at home.. I also found (in Cairns, Australia) on a tourist market some nice mussel shells that had a bright golden rim added on.It looks as if it was liquid before it was put on. I used those for my jewelry too. How and with what can I make that gold on Dutch mussel shells? If I need to fire that gold in a kiln, will it mess up my (porcelain firing) kiln, will the muscles stand 2200 °F heat? I am very grateful for any suggestions.



Thank you!

Marleen Engeler
artist - Monnickendam, Noord Holland, The Netherlands

---

We have an FAQ that explains the alternative ways to metallize a non-conductive object, Ms. Engeler. As I am sure that you appreciate, there is art involved as well as chemistry--if it was easy, everyone would do it, and it would be so commonplace and no longer eye-catching.

I can only guess, but I feel you are probably on the right track about the mussel shells, they may have a gold paint that was fired on as if they were China dishes. The leaves were probably lacquered, then sprayed with a conductive solution, then copper or gold plated. The patina was probably done later, not as an integral part of the electroplating step.

It is true that most of the methods involve materials which some governments call toxic. Here in the USA it would probably theoretically be against the law to do the necessary processing on objects for sale because you would be considered a plating shop and would need to register and get permits, etc. Whether it's a realistic concern to be worried about the legality in the Netherlands, I can't say.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2004

Electroplated, I would guess

Yvette Casablanca
- Fresh Meadows, New York, USA
September 29, 2009