Gilder's burnisher, used by Thomas Nelson, Edinburgh

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A gilder's burnisher was used by a bookbinder to gild the edges of pages in books. This example was used by the book production company, Thomas Nelson of Edinburgh.

The burnisher consists of a tubular brass head into which is inserted a rounded piece of agate. The agate is bent at almost 90 degrees in the middle and has a pointed tip. The handle is made of wood.

By 1878, the company of Thomas Nelson employed 600 people in Edinburgh and London. Thomas Nelson himself invented a rotary press which was shown at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-003-103-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.QC 24
• Date: 19th century
  
• Material: Brass; wood, mid brown; agate, grey-brown
  Burnisher, gilder's
  
• Dimensions: 68 mm H x 390 mm L x 35 mm Dia
  
• What: Burnisher, gilder's
  
• Subject:
• Who: E. Sandilands (Owner)
  Thomas Nelson, Edinburgh (Owner)
  
• Where:
• Event:
• Description: Gilder's burnisher with a tubular brass head and handle of mid brown wood, used by the donor for gilding the edges of pages of books when employed as a bookbinder at Thomas Nelson of Edinburgh
  
• References:
  • Keay, J. & J. (eds). Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland. London: HarperCollins, 1994, p 733. 
• Translations:
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