Varnish PF-283 by Yaroslavl paints. Alkyd varnish, high gloss. It is not sold in its original container, poured by us in convenient flasks of 0.5 liters.

To cover a gilded icon, we use a mixture of PF-283 varnish Yaroslavl paints with Estonian Vekker Linavanits olive oil in a 1:1 ratio. This mixture is applied * by hand in a latex glove in the rubbing, “dry”. After ~4 hours, we add this mixture dry in the same way in those places where it “gelled”. Drying time of the mixture is about 16 hours. Read more about this method of application in our articles on the website.

The advantage of this composition for covering icons

• What we polished stays glossy, what we left unpolished stays matte (if we use only the olive on the gold, it becomes cloudy, matte, if we use only varnish, everything will be too glossy).
• Both gold and lettering and even jewelry cold enamel can be coated.
• Dries quickly
• This mixture is time-tested, the varnish does not yellow, does not turn white, does not darken.
• No need to “race” the olive oil, “fickle” and other things

Disadvantages – the mixture does not clear very well, theoretically there could be some problems in restoration. Use our way or not – you decide!

*This method is ideal for covering an icon painted in PVA tempera, but if you paint with pigments, egg tempera, it is advisable to first 1) let them dry for at least 2 weeks; 2) first impregnate with olive oil in the classic way, avoiding contact of the oil with the gold.