Goldbeating: Last family that masters the craft

The Menegazzo family runs one of the world's last goldbeating operations. In Venice, Italy, Mario Menegazzo hammers bars of gold until they are so thin they become mere leaves - thinner than a human hair. The process beating gold until it obtains the delicacy required for use in gilding is hard work. Mario uses hammers that weigh up to 8kg to pound the gold into its leaf form. It’s then used for a range of purposes, such as artistic decoration.
For centuries, Venice used this precious metal to flaunt its wealth. The craft of goldbeating has been practiced there since the year 1000, when trade was booming. Now, very few craftsman's shops are left that still work gold by hand. Goldbeating - where the hand still trumps the machine - has almost died out.
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[@jeromemckenna7102]

Many years ago, I worked in a shop the made gilded frames and all the gold we used came from Italy. It is nice to see how that was made. When the lady who did the gilded explained what wrong with machine beaten gold, I understood exactly. A lot of fine gilding uses evenly spaced leaves with no breaks, Machine made gold wouldn't work for that.

[@mrwhosmynameagain]

Very interesting! Glad I am one of the few people left who seem to be interested in this almost forgotten craft.

[@eraserewrite]

If anyone has ever watched that KZbin video of the guy collecting gold dust from gold makers in the public showers. He would probably freak about people eating gold leaf. It was a good watch to see how people can find a way to make anything.

[@FARMANKHAN-tk3lk]

I also do the same work of making gold leaf in india

[@dhairyarajumrania2362]

Which place?

[@lebojay]

So, you’re saying this guy is the world’s greatest masterbeater?

[@erwinheinz3206]

awesome

[@jillwheeler6207]

Interesting & pretty. Grazie. 🔨

[@joshacollins84]

Absolutely amazing, the amount of artistry skill and talent in this one short video is simply incredible.

[@alunoodalmheiri7028]

Watching him hammer away like that gave me so much anxiety, because i just imagined him accidentally hitting his thumb, lol

[@dweuromaxx]

@Alunood Almehairi Ouch!

[@mrwhosmynameagain]

After hitting your thumb so many times, you'll not do it again. I'm a carpenter and can set a nail with my hammer full swing after many years of working with my hammer from sunrise to sunset every day. I'm no master; I still occasionally will get my fingers but every time that happens it adds to my neural network of muscle memory and I learn from it, the pain is also a big factor in preventing another mistake. It's amazing how something that seems so simple like hammering can be endlessly mastered. The guy who taught me carpentry has been doing it for more than 50 years now and often says 'i should be able to spit nails through my teeth at this point' hahaha. I hope to be able to have the dexterity with tools that he posseses one day.

[@asadali-oe4zy]

Nice to hear their pure Venetian Italian accent

[@neuroncrux5937]

I love how dude is running a foundry in gym shorts and a polo shirt.

[@mrrishiraj88]

👍

[@TiananmenSquareMassacre1989]

It is interesting that according to other videos found here the traditional Japanese technique uses the exact same technique for manufacturing of these.

[@MrSonofsonof]

This was my dad's first job in London in the 1940s.

[@dweuromaxx]

Awesome! Did he continue in that career? :)

[@hojinna6396]

Hydraulic press?

[@blackmamba-em2uu]

World's greatest!!???? He may be good but greatest! I dought that... Ha ha.. classic superiority complex... In india there are thousands extremely talented gold beater..

[@dweuromaxx]

@black mamba There definitely are superb gold beaters in india or other parts of the world - We did not want to offend anyone here..🔨🥇

[@masonist]

"Doubt". And get off your horse. India is a toilet.

[@1-shotslinger108]

What about Giusto Manetti Gold Beaters since 1822

[@casteretpollux]

All.over the world ancient crafts thousands of years old are disappearing. The skills aren't even recorded and the tools are dispersed. If there was societal collapse of carbon fuelled mass production we would be helpless, more than at any stage of history.

[@elberethreviewer5558]

If I had money, I would fly there and become an apprentice. Unfortunately, I'm poor.

[@SilasK-pt2db]

Read or listen to the audiobook of The Science of Getting Rich, by Wallace D. Wattles. It works. It's a process, but it works, with mathematical certainty. We only limit ourselves. Any man or woman is capable of and entitled to all the advancement he or she wants in this life. God bless.

[@SoCalFreelance]

Humans have been infatuated with gold for centuries and for that reason it's one of the best stores of wealth and why I own it (along with silver too).

[@KamathVaishali]

It's probably the last family in Europe that masters this craft. In India, it is done by a lot of people. 😊

[@forbiddenstuff8656]

Yeah India should improve in technology

[@hkinfluenster8713]

That is so true. Thailand as well. Excellent hand beaten gold leaf artisans.

[@AfrozKhan-qd5yc]

I do this work

[@lenny108]

Seems nowadays this is all made by machines.

[@frankdavis5478]

6000 sheets times 4 bucks is 24k Stay woke