Daily AncestorGoldbeater
A goldbeater hammered gold into gold leaf, sheets so thin that they could be laid on frames, signs and book covers for gilding.
Goldbeaters started with small pieces of gold and beat them for hours between layers of special skin or paper until they were thinner than tissue. It took patience and steady skill.
The leaf was sold to gilders, sign painters and bookbinders. Goldbeaters usually worked in large cities where those customers were found.
As seen in a recordOccupation column of the 1850 to 1880 census
Jacob Reis, 44, Gold beater, Germany
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Goldbeater." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/goldbeater. Last checked 2026-10-01.