Fire gilding
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Description
A gold gilding technique in which an amalgam of Gold with Mercury is applied to a metal, such as Copper or Silver, then the metal is heated to flash volatilize the mercury and deposit a thin layer of gold. Fire gilding has been used since at least 300 CE in China. In most regions, it was replaced in the mid-19th century by electrogilding.
Synonyms and Related Terms
fire gilding; amalgam gilding; mercury gilding; dorure au feu (Fr.); Feuervergoldung (Deut.); vuurvergulden (Ned.)
Resources and Citations
- P.T.Craddock, "Gilding", The Dictionary of Art Grove's Dictionaries, New York, 1996.
- Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996