The red gold and pale yellow effects seen on Chinese lacquered cabinets, etc.. are produced by the aid of lead, tin, or silver foil laid upon a smooth surface, and coated with various gum varnishes. Very effective panels may be made upon this principle, and these may be utilised in the construction of screens, cabinets, etc. When sheet metal is used it should be perfectly free from marks of any kind, and should be highly polished. If wood is employed it must be planed very flat and then smoothed with fine glasspaper, being afterwards sized and primed with two coats of white lead and yellow ochre mixed with drying oil and a little oil size; rub down each coat with pumice powder and water. Next coat with flat black and rub down, first with finest sandpaper, then with a dry cloth, and finally with the palm of the hand, taking great care that particles of dust do not remain. Now give an even coat of a mixture of 2 parts of black japan and 1 part of gold size, and after rubbing down, when dry, with pumice powder and water the panel is ready for the silver leaf. The portions to be treated with foil are then coated with gold size to which has been added a small proportion of linseed oil, and when these parts are of the proper "tackiness" the leaf or foil is laid on, as in gilding.

When dry and the surplus metal removed, the subjects are toned, shaded, and tinted; for the darker shades, dragon's blood mixed with turpentine is used; gamboge forms the lighter shades. All the transparent oil-colours, as used by artists, may also be used for various effects upon the foil. In say a Landscape, the figures, sun, and water may be covered with foil, whilst the other portions of the Landscape may be executed in oils, and should be suggestive rather than detailed. When dry, wash with water containing a very little soda, and finish by varnishing.