Metal leaf

Okay kiddo, have you ever seen shiny, glittery gold or silver decorations on furniture or artwork? Those are made of something called metal leaf.

Metal leaf is a super thin sheet of metal that's been hammered, stretched, and thinned until it's almost as thin as a piece of paper. It's so delicate that it can be torn or crumpled easily, so it needs to be handled with care.

Sometimes, metal leaf is made from real gold or silver, but it can also be made from other metals like copper, aluminum, or even imitation gold.

Metal leaf is often used for decorative purposes. It can be applied to furniture, picture frames, statues, or even walls to add a shiny, luxurious look.

To apply metal leaf, a special glue or adhesive called "size" is first applied to the surface. Then, the metal leaf is carefully placed onto the surface and gently pressed down. Any excess leaf is then brushed away, leaving behind a thin layer of shiny metal.

So, that's metal leaf in a nutshell. It's a super thin sheet of metal that's used for decoration and requires delicate handling.