Gilding

Table clock
MFA# 22.395

Description

A thin layer of gold or other metal applied as a decorative surface finish. The metal may be applied as a thin leaf, by electroplating, or as a thin paint layer. Gilding is used on paintings, furniture, frames, sculptures, and book edges.

See also Cold gilding, Fire gilding, Oil gilding, Water gilding, Silver gilding, and Ormolu.

Armchair
MFA# 36.640

Synonyms and Related Terms

gilt; gilded;

Additional Images

• 

  Paneled drawing room
  MFA# 27.462

• 

  Mantel clock
  MFA# 27.522

• 

  Communion cup
  MFA# 33.102

• 

  Buddhist sculpture
  MFA# 50.3608

• 

  Gilt copper sculpture
  MFA# 67.5

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)

• Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996

• Website address 1 Comment: AMOL reCollections Glossary - http://amol.org.au/recollections/7/g/htm

• Janet Burnett Grossman, Looking at Greek and Roman Sculpture in Stone, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2003