A gold beater was a person who worked in the gold leaf industry, usually hammering thin gold sheets into thinness. Synonyms for this term can include gold leaf maker, gold leaf artisan, gilt worker, and goldsmith. While a gold beater's main job was to shape and thin gold for use in decorative surfaces, they were often also skilled in other areas of metalworking, including metal engraving, jewelry-making, and sculpture. Some synonyms for these other areas of expertise include goldsmith, silversmith, jeweler, and metalworker. Regardless of the specific term used, anyone who worked in the gold leaf or metalworking industry was considered a highly skilled artisan with an important role in creating beautiful and valuable objects.