As the basis for this paper we have used a cross section of a very small sample taken from a sheet of gold leather which was made around 1720. It was possible to establish the nature of the materials present in each layer, even when the layer was only a few microns think. The substrate is vegetable tanned calf leather. The silver leaf layer above was identified by a laser microspectral analyzer. Nondestructive activation analysis confirmed patches where silver had turned to silver sulfide. Above the silver layer come two transparent layers. Infrared spectroscopy determined these to be a varnish containing sandarac, other natural resins and oils, and asphalt, which gives a gold color. Pigments in outer decorative layers were identified with the laser microspectral analyzer. These pigments, e.g. lead white and vermillion, are covered with a tinted varnish. This information, together with information gained from historical sources, enables us to reconstruct the manufacturing process of the gold leather to a high degree of accuracy.