From a Sow's Ear to a Silk Purse

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I came across this mirror in a local shop.  It was the styling that caught my eye and I knew that I could do something with it.

I wanted to give it an aged gild over plaster effect, but oh boy, it was cheaply made! Had I bitten off more than I could chew?

The first step was to gild the high points. The effect I was going for did not require gilding the whole mirror.

I then covered the complete surface with a white acrylic paint mixed with fine sand. I then wiped away the paint to reveal the gold. 

The mirror plate was acid etched to give it an aged appearance.

Once the frame was dry, I started weathering it down using various pigment washes. This is a very rewarding process as you see the mirror 'come to life'.

The end result is quite convincing. Just don't let anyone tap it or the game is up!