Work in progress...

Press brocade is a technique of the second half of the fifteenth century. It could be applied on altarpieces, painted panels ( in texture form or painted form with or without the use of gold leaf an tin) or on sculptures (for example on the clothes). The press brocade was used to imitate rich brocade textile fabrics. The fabrics were made and sold at the same time. They sought for a way to create the texture and colour with different materials. First there was a mould engraved. The material of the mould can vary (wood, metal, stone). The tin foil is pressed into the mould so it takes its form. Then the fill mass is applied on the backside of the tin foil. The fill mas could vary from wax ,wax-resin with additions of chalk, pigments to chalk-glue. The formed brocade sheet is taken out of the mould. The brocade could now be gilded and painted. The gilding mostly happened wit Zwischgold. This example is from the opened Ghent's altarpiece Maria panel.

The engraved mould and the formed brocade thats taken out of it

One of the fill masses that could be used to form the brocade sheet.

The formed brocade sheet taken out of the mould.

Painting of the brocade.

Painting of the brocade in two different versions.

creating an isolate brocade.