Although the extensive use of gilding is one of the most familiar characteristics of medieval art, the production of metal leaf in the Middle Ages has, for the most part, escaped scholarly attention. A substantial amount of documentary material concerning metalbeating has been published since the min-nineteenth century; it has not, however, received serious examination. This article provides an introduction to the craft of metalbeating, long ignored or erroneously subsumed into the craft of the goldsmiths. By analyzing pertinent documents, light is thus shed not only on the organization and methods of these craftsmen, but also on the availability and prices of their materials. These aspects all contribute to an understanding of the physical composition of surviving works of art as well as a better understanding of the factors that shaped the painters’ decisions concerning certain materials. In turn, this sharpens comprehension of the processes of deterioration of medieval gilding and its original appearance.