Gilding

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Definition

The application of gold to the surface of a bronze sculpture. This can be achieved by a variety of methods. Traditionally gilding was mainly undertaken using leaf gilding or mercury gilding, in which an amalgam of gold and mercury is applied to the surface and heated, causing the mercury to evaporate and the gold to fuse to the surface. From the nineteenth century electrochemical plating or deposition began to be used, as well as gold powder paint or wax. (See Vol. 1, Ch. 7 for more information).

Homographs

Synonyms

Related Terms

Electrochemical plating   Leaf gilding   Mercury amalgam   Metal plating

To Be Distinguished From

Sources

Cultural Heritage Publications

Drayman-Weisser, T. (ed.) (2000) Gilded metals: history, technology and conservation. London, England: Archetype Publications in association with the American Institute of Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.
Oddy, W. A. (1993) ‘Gilding of Metals in the Old World’, in La Niece, S. and Craddock, P. T. (eds) Metal Plating and Patination: Cultural, technical & historical developments. Oxford; London; Boston [etc.]: Butterworth-Heinemann, pp. 171–81.
Salter, C. J. and Gilmour, B. J. J. (no date) ‘Glossary of terms used in the study of ancient metal-working and associated processes’. Materials Science-Based Archaeology Group,  Department of Materials, Universi ty of Oxford. Available at: http://hist-met.org/images/pdf/glossary.pdf.
Motture, P. (2019) The culture of bronze: making and meaning in Renaissance sculpture. London: V&A Publishing., (p. 39)

General Dictionaries

Oxford University Press (2002) Oxford English Dictionary Online. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. Available at: http://www.oed.com (Accessed: 15 August 2019).

Category

objects

Getty AAT

300053789

Translations

German Vergoldung

Cultural Heritage Publications

Lein, E. (2004) ‘Ars Aeraria. Die Kunst des Bronzegießens und die Bedeutung von Bronze in der florentinischen Renaissance.’, (p. 58)
French dorure

Historical Sources

Diderot, D., Alembert, J. L. R. d’ and etc (1751) Encyclopédie; ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, (17 tomes vol). Paris: Briasson. Available at: http://enccre.academie-sciences.fr/encyclopedie/., (1755 t5 p57-60 entry « dorure »)

Cultural Heritage Publications

Baudry, M. T., Bozo, D. and Inventaire général des monuments et des richesses artistiques de la, F. (1978) La Sculpture: Méthode et vocabulaire. Paris: Impr. nationale (Principes d’analyse scientifique)., (p657)
Azéma, A. and Mille, B. (2013b) ‘Un point sur la technique de fabrication des grands bronzes antiques’, L’actualité chimique, 377, pp. 43–44.
Aucouturier, M. et al. (2003) ‘Les patines des alliages de cuivre : processus naturel ou oeuvre de l’homme ?’, Techné, 18, pp. 86–94.
Italian doratura

General Dictionaries

Enciclopedia Treccani. (2010). Rome, Italy: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana., (http://www.treccani.it/vocabolario/doratura/)
Battaglia, S. (1961) Grande dizionario della lingua italiana. Edited by Giorgio Bárberi Squarotti. Turin, Italy: Unione tipografico-editrice torinese. Available at: http://www.gdli.it/ (Accessed: 25 April 2021)., (http://www.gdli.it/pdf_viewer/Scripts/pdf.js/web/viewer.asp?file=/PDF/GDLI04/GDLI_04_ocr_970.pdf&parola=doratura)

Other

Cellini, B. (1568) Due trattati: uno intorno alle otto principali arti dell’oreficeria: l’altro in materia dell’arte della scultura, dove si veggono infiniti segreti nel lavorar le figure di marmo, & nel gettarle di bronzo. Edited by Antonio Altomonte. Modena: Edizioni Aldine., (fol. 41)
Chinese 铸模

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