Editing Gilding (section)

=== Depletion ===
{{Main|Depletion gilding}}

In depletion gilding, a subtractive process discovered in [[pre-Columbian]] [[Mesoamerica]], articles are fabricated by various techniques from an alloy of copper and gold, named [[tumbaga]] by the [[Spanish colonization of the Americas|Spaniards]]. The surface is etched with acids, resulting in a surface of porous gold. The porous surface is then [[Burnishing (metal)|burnished]] down, resulting in a shiny gold surface. The results fooled the [[conquistadors]] into thinking they had massive quantities of pure gold. The results startled modern [[archaeology|archaeologists]], because at first the pieces resemble electroplated articles. {{transliteration|ko|[[Keum-boo]]}} is a special [[Koreans|Korean]] technique of silver-gilding, using [[depletion gilding]].