The job of a gold beater (or gold drawer) consists of making extremely thin gold leaves, used mainly for gilding. The craftsman starts with pure gold, which he melts with a little silver or copper to obtain the desired shade. This metal is then cast into an ingot, heated and hammered for a long time before being rolled to a very thin thickness, often a few micrometers. These gold leaves are then used by various professions: gilders, enamelers, iconographers, but also decorators and certain food artisans for applications in creative cuisine, in particular to decorate dishes and desserts.
The gold beating skill, once more widespread, is now somewhere between industry and craft, with processes often being mechanized to meet global demand.