Aurum Aluminum Leaf, also called imitation silver, is made from pure aluminum and is silver in color.
Composition metal leaf will tarnish, therefore all metal leaf must be sealed to prevent tarnishing, except Aluminum. Aluminum leaf may get a bit darker in color without a sealer. It is best to wear gloves when handling metal leaf to avoid leaving finger prints and other residues that may cause the leaf to discolor under the sealer.
A book of loose aluminum leaf is assembled by placing each unit of aluminum leaf between sheets of thin rouged paper. The gilder can then remove one leaf at a time without disturbing the remaining leaves. It is removed from the book with a gilder's tip, a flat natural hair brush, or tongs.
Aurum aluminum leaf is made in the standard European size of 140 x 140 mm (5.5 x 5.5 inches) and is available in units called "books," each book containing 25 leaves. For volume discounts order one or more boxes of aluminum leaf; each box contains 20 books or 500 leaves and covers 105 sq. ft. without waste or overlap. The percentage of waste is based on the complexity of the object and the gilder's expertise in laying leaf. If the surface is very ornate with deep crevices it will take more leaf than the same size area of a flat surface.