By using the right base color, glazes and leaf the copy can have the same look as the original.

This violin was first gilded, then painted over with black egg tempera.  My design was then scratched through the paint, revealing the leaf.  This technique is known as Sgraffitto, and is often seen on cassetta picture frames.

For this Chinoiserie scene the figures were first modeled using a technique known as pastiglia, where rabbit glue gesso is layered to make a raised form of the subjects.  The red background I made with blonde shellac and genuine cinnabar over a gesso ground.  The figures and foliage are oil gilt 23kt gold and detailed with India ink. 

Here, white and featureless basswood was dyed and shaded with glazes.  Several different shades of glaze were layered to achieve a mellow, aged look.