Can copper foil and lead be combined in the same piece?
Yes, both lead and copper foil can be used. This is particularly useful where a high level of detail is required in part(s) of a panel detail that could otherwise be lost in an all-lead panel. In the No17 panel, the client and I considered foil for the glass within the central oval and around the numbers. However we decided, by reviewing full size cartoons, that a narrower width of lead was more in keeping. Another advantage of foil is that the solder can be coloured with chemical patinas that allow the detail to be picked out in copper or silver (the natural solder finish). There is also a patina to colour the solder black to match the lead. Although the two mediums can be combined, I would always consider an all-lead panel in the first instance for its greater strength and weather resistance.
