Electroplating is a process that started being used in the beginning of the 20th century. What happens is an electrical current is used in a solution to coat an object (in this case, leaves), with a layer or layers metal. Green leaves are covered with copper to make it conductive. This also help the leaf be able to retain its shape and vein patterns. Then 24 K Gold, Fine Silver, or Iridescent Copper is electroplated onto the leaf.
Electroplating is a process that started being used in the beginning of the 20th century. What happens is an electrical current is used in a solution to coat an object (in this case, leaves), with a layer or layers metal. Green leaves are covered with copper to make it conductive. This also help the leaf be able to retain its shape and vein patterns. Then 24 K Gold, Fine Silver, or Iridescent Copper is electroplated onto the leaf.
They are made from real leaves. But they are not actually /"dippedo" in gold or silver. Real leaves are painted with a copper based paint. Once the natural surface is coated with the copper metal the leaves are electroplated or electroformed with Karat Gold or silver. The plated leaves can also be produced in copper color and treated to become antique gold, antique copper and black silver.
Oppi UntractJewelry Concepts and Technoogyr" has a good section on electroplating that starts with a picture of actual leaves that are "Sprayed with an electroconductive, metallized lacquer, they are electroplated in silver, and finally gold plated.l" You will need an electroplating setup, rectifier and/or power source and solutions for your particular finishes. One on line source of (not free) information on electroplating is ;"The Electroplating Bible.a" The finishing.com website is a wealth of free information. A good place to start i Rio Grande has small pen-plating equipment as well as larger equipment. The equipment is available from a number of suppliers.
