Traditional gilding

• • Rian's craft skills are considered endangered
• • She masters around 18 restoration techniques
• • She passes on her knowledge to students

Master gilder Rian Kanduth works with more than 18 techniques: water gilding, gesso, punchwork, oil gilding, verré eglomisé, japanning, penwork, coromandel, gesso cutting, sgraffito, pastiglia, patina, and many more. Rian opened her first workshop in London in 1995. She trained as a gilder in a well recognised London frame making atelier and afterwards she studied Conservation & Restoration at the City & Guilds of London Art School. Her first commission was a hand carved Welsh slate recessed into an oak surround with Trajan letter cutting and gilding for The National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Society. Her love for teaching and passing on her knowledge is evident from the success of her apprentices, many of whom have careers in the field of decorative arts.