Gilding

MFA Acc. #: 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 gilt, and ormolu.

MFA Acc. #: 36.640

Synonyms and Related Terms

gilt; gilded;

Additional Images

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  MFA Acc. #: 27.462

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  MFA Acc. #: 27.522

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  MFA Acc. #: 33.102

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  MFA Acc. #: 50.3608

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  MFA Acc. #: 67.5

Authority

• 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