Rabbit Skin Glue: Creative Uses Beyond Canvas Sizing

Rabbit Skin Glue in Traditional Craft: More Than Just a Sizing Agent

When most people think of Rabbit Skin Glue, they think of its primary role in sizing artists’ canvases. And rightly so, it has been used for centuries to prepare surfaces for painting, especially in classical oil painting and tempera traditions. But the uses of this time-honoured adhesive extend far beyond the realm of canvas preparation.

Rabbit Skin Glue for Gilding: A Vital Binder for Bole and Gold Leaf

One of the most respected uses of Rabbit Skin Glue is in gilding. When mixed with whiting, it forms traditional gesso, a smooth, absorbent ground used to prime surfaces for gold leaf. This mixture provides an ideal base for applying bole, a pigmented clay that enhances the brilliance of gold and helps the leaf adhere smoothly.

In traditional water gilding, Rabbit Skin Glue is also used to create the gilding size, the adhesive layer that activates under moisture to accept gold leaf. The glue’s natural stickiness and elasticity make it uniquely suited to this delicate task.

How to prepare gilding size with Rabbit Skin Glue:

Soak 45 grams of granules in 750ml of water overnight. Warm gently in a saucepan (do not boil) until liquefied. Apply warm for best results. Or, for ease, we also supply a prepared version, simply warm it in water and apply.

In Luthiery: Crafting and Repairing Fine Musical Instruments

In the world of musical instrument making, particularly luthiery (the crafting of stringed instruments like violins and guitars), Rabbit Skin Glue is prized for its reversibility and natural bonding strength.

Because traditional animal glues can be softened with gentle heat and moisture, they are ideal for instruments that may require future repair. Rabbit Skin Glue has been used to:

• Attach violin tops and backs
• Secure bridges and internal blocks
• Repair cracks without damaging the original finishes

Its subtle flexibility also allows the instrument to resonate more naturally, enhancing tonal quality, a key concern for makers of violins, cellos and classical guitars.

Woodworking and Fine Furniture: A Trusted Traditional Adhesive

Before modern synthetic glues came onto the market, Rabbit Skin Glue and other natural animal-based adhesives were the standard in cabinetmaking and furniture restoration. Today, many traditional woodworkers continue to favour them for their time-proven reliability, aesthetic integrity, and compatibility with antique materials.

In fine joinery, Rabbit Skin Glue is often used to:

• Bond veneers in marquetry and parquetry
• Join small components in intricate furniture
• Restore antique pieces where authenticity is essential

Because it doesn’t stain or affect finishes the way modern glues can, it remains a favourite in heritage crafts and restoration work.

Rabbit Skin Glue in Iconography and Decorative Arts

Religious and historical icon painting often relies on traditional materials to stay true to centuries-old techniques. Rabbit Skin Glue, mixed into gesso and bole, provides the grounding and structure needed for icons on wood panels.

Additionally, in decorative arts and mixed media, artists use it to:

• Build textures and relief surfaces
• Bind handmade papers
• Secure delicate layers of pigment, gold, or natural materials

Its organic quality makes it particularly appealing to artists seeking tactile, natural finishes and methods aligned with slow craft.

Safe for Edible Art: An Unexpected Culinary Role

Though primarily used in art and craft, it’s worth noting that Genuine Rabbit Skin Glue is harmless when ingested and is classed as E174 by the European Union. This makes it suitable for some niche edible art uses, such as:

• Decorating gourmet chocolates
• Applying gold or silver leaf to cakes
• Creating edible centrepieces

While not a food ingredient in itself, its compatibility with food-safe decoration is yet another example of its versatility.

Why Choose Rabbit Skin Glue from Wrights of Lymm?

At Wrights of Lymm, we offer genuine Rabbit Skin Glue in both granular and prepared forms. Whether you're mixing your own gesso or need a ready-to-use adhesive for gilding or repairs, our glue is sourced for purity, performance and tradition.

• Available in granules or pre-prepared form
• Easy to liquefy - just soak or warm gently in water
• Perfect for interior art and craft applications
• Ideal for gilding, woodworking, luthiery, and restoration

Rabbit Skin Glue Remains Relevant in a Modern World

Despite the evolution of synthetic adhesives, Rabbit Skin Glue remains unmatched for certain applications. Its unique properties, strong yet reversible, natural yet effective, make it invaluable for traditional techniques that require finesse and fidelity to historic methods.

Whether you’re a fine artist, furniture restorer, gilder, or luthier, this humble yet powerful adhesive deserves a place in your workshop.

Contact us today to find out more about our Rabbit Skin Glue or explore our full range of gilding and art materials at stonehouses.co.uk. Our expert team is happy to assist you with any questions or recommendations.