Beating Gold Leaf . The art of beating fine gold leaf was in existence 4,000 years ago and many of the treasures of luxor are decorated with magnificent specimens of the craft . today the art of gold leaf beating is brought to perfection by Messrs G.M. Whiley , Whitfield St. Tottenham CT RD, who have carried on the business for years . The ribbon , being cut into squares , is interleaved with special paper , about 200 pieces . The gold ribbon is 1 1/4 inches square and the paper 3 1/2 inches square . forming a pad it is then beaten by machine until the gold is the same size as the paper . 29 January 1923