THE MYTH OF EL DORADO. MAKING AND APPLYING GOLD IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA (15TH- 16TH CENTURIES).

This work aims at analysing the techniques involved in the manufacture of gold leaf and gold inks and also in their application to different surfaces. First, we examine the techniques put into practice for refining the gold, so it can be reduced to thin leafs or dust; afterwards, we focus on the description of the process of goldbeating for the manufacture of gold leaf and also on the recipes used for concocting gold inks; finally, we describe the process of application of these leafs and inks to the most commonly used surfaces (parchment, leather, metal, wood, bone and textile fabrics). This analysis is based on information contained in Spanish archive documents, recipe books and technical manuals from the 15^th and 16^th centuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]