Creating drying cracks

Hi, I am currently reproducing a section of an antique gilt picture frame. In some areas it requires the appearance of drying cracks. The cracklure on the original is a fine alligator pattern and has broken the gilding and ormolu into small islands, exposing the oil size and gesso below. Does anyone have any ideas on how this can be reproduced. I figure I need to add something to my ormolu coating (ormolu, is a coating applied to the gold to flatten and reduce appearence of lap lines, it is a solution containing seedlac and rabbitskin glue, however to reproduce an aged appearance pigments are added) to make it shrink rapidly on drying. Any ideas? Or maybe or could apply something to the ormolu layer that would pull that apart? Is there any products that anyone would suggest?

Cheers