Gilding

Gilding is a decorative technique for applying a very thin coating of <a href="/facts/Gold/1znknojp">gold</a> over solid surfaces such as metal (most common), wood, <a href="/facts/Porcelain/deuLm3sb">porcelain</a>, or stone. A gilded object is also described as "gilt". Where metal is gilded, the metal below was traditionally <a href="/facts/Silver/xXe41BGg">silver</a> in the West, to make <a href="/facts/Silver-gilt/2zlqrGxa">silver-gilt</a> (or vermeil) objects, but <a href="/facts/Gilt-bronze/fzbUnF94">gilt-bronze</a> is commonly used in China, and also called <a href="/facts/Ormolu/fzbUnF94">ormolu</a> if it is Western. Methods of gilding include hand application and gluing, typically of <a href="/facts/Gold_leaf/br341Ypd">gold leaf</a>, chemical gilding, and <a href="/facts/Electroplating/HbKf0SBb">electroplating</a>, the last also called <a href="/facts/Gold_plating/7Wd6k3zJ">gold plating</a>. Parcel-gilt (partial gilt) objects are only gilded over part of their surfaces. This may mean that all of the inside, and none of the outside, of a <a href="/facts/Chalice/M6nJrxTY">chalice</a> or similar vessel is gilded, or that patterns or images are made up by using a combination of gilt and ungilted areas.
Gilding gives an object a gold appearance at a fraction of the cost of creating a solid gold object. In addition, a solid gold piece would often be too soft or too heavy for practical use. A gilt surface also does not tarnish as silver does.
Modern gilding is applied to numerous and diverse surfaces and by various processes. More traditional techniques still form an important part of <a href="/facts/Picture_frame/jNP6aMRB">framemaking</a> and are sometimes still employed in general <a href="/facts/Woodworking/JSttCtkP">woodworking</a>, <a href="/facts/Cabinet_(furniture)/NaT8nXS0">cabinet</a>-work, decorative painting and <a href="/facts/Interior_decoration/xuPYsKB1">interior decoration</a>, <a href="/facts/Bookbinding/H3F36uH8">bookbinding</a>, and ornamental <a href="/facts/Leather/kvQtwHPH">leather</a> work, and in the decoration of <a href="/facts/Pottery/XLcUT1mX">pottery</a>, porcelain, and <a href="/facts/Glass/hezRsAGf">glass</a>.

Gilding open-in-new

Gilding