In 2000, Walter De Maria approached American Burnish to gild two sets of mahogany columns for an art installation on Naoshima Island in Japan. Collaborating with renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, Mr. De Maria was looking for a gilded surface to place in a seaside room open to the elements.

photos: Tomio Ohashi		 Using a technique we devised years earlier, the mahogany rods were water gilded without using gesso. This method stands up to marine climates. It also showcases the woodgrain in an echo of traditional temple gilding.
Ten years ago, while experimenting in our studio, we developed a hybrid gilding technique which yields the beauty of burnished water gilding on wood without the use of gesso. Drying hard and extremely durable, our WATER GILDING withstands handling and will remain beautiful for many, many years. One measure of our success comes from gilded wood which traveled 12,000 miles and survived the rigors of installation without a scratch.