goldbeater's skin
The prepared outer coat of the caecum of the ox
(or other cattle), which is the blind pouch or sac
in which the large intestine begins. The gut is
soaked in a dilute solution of potassium
hydroxide, washed, stretched, beaten flat and
thin, and treated chemically to prevent
putrefaction. It is then stretched tightly and
cemented together, back to back, leaving the
clear, smooth, veinless inside of the caecum
exposed. The SHODER and MOLD stages of GOLDBEATING are built
up with these double skins of the ox. A mold of
1,000 pieces of goldbeater's skin requires the gut
of about 400 oxen, and is only 1 inch thick when
assembled. The pack is built up by interleaving
the skins with leaves of gold. Goldbeater's skin
is also used in the repair of holes and tears of
vellum. (29 )
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