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, flattened and widened to form a nozzle into which is inserted a piece of cut brown and white agate. The handle is of varnished wood.

After leaving school, Thomas Nelson (1822-92) joined the Edinburgh bookselling business originally set up by his father. He was mainly interested in bookbinding and book production and went on to set up workshops in Edinburgh and London.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-003-102-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.QC 23
• Date: 19th century
  
• Material: Brass; varnished wood, light brown; agate, brown and white
  Burnisher, gilder's
  
• Dimensions: 382 mm L; 34 mm Dia (handle); 64 mm w (tip)
  
• 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 varnished wooden handle, 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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