Gold, Gold leaf

Gold leaf is a very thin metal foil which is available in a wide variety of carats and shades. 23-carat gold is the most commonly used variety. Layering gold leaf over a surface is sometimes called gold leafing, and is a very common form of gilding. Before the discovery of electroplating, it was the only cost effective way to gild statues, cornices, the exterior of domes or other objects. To avoid the high price of gold there are a variety of imitation gold leaf products available which are usually referred collectively as imitation leaf.