What Is Gild Gold?

Gilded manuscript depicting Sir Lancelot.

Gild means to "overlay with a thin covering of gold" or to "decorate with, or as if with, gold leaf or liquid gold." Gild gold is the metal used to decorate objects and it exists in many forms. The object to be gilded determines the type of gold, process and adhesive used. Throughout many centuries, gild gold was used to beautify objects, including picture frames, religious manuscripts and architectural elements, and to disguise less precious metals.

History

Gilded funerary mask of King Tut.

One of the first examples of gilding, dating to about 3,000 B.C., was discovered in Syria, where gold foil was folded around the heads of silver nails. Gilding flourished in Egypt where pictures of goldsmiths creating sheets of gold were found. Over time, the sheets of gold foil became thinner until they became gold leaf. The mechanical process of attaching the gold to objects developed to include adhesives, chemical processes using mercury, fire and acid.

Function

Gilded figure on Egyptian sarcophagus.

Gilding's purpose is decorative, whether to conceal lesser metals or to embellish objects. Throughout history, it was used for religious and secular arts. For example, gild gold decorates illuminated manuscripts, Egyptian sarcophagi and Roman statues. Architectural gilding adorns churches, hotels and government buildings. Today, gilding is still used to embellish household objects, such as picture frames or furniture.

Features

Close-up of gold leaf design.

Gild gold comes in gold leaf or liquid form, depending on the process used to attach it to the underlying object. Gold leaf is gold that has been hammered into thin sheets. The leaf is attached mechanically, by folding or hammering it around an object. Objects can be gilded with liquid gold through a chemical process or by applying gold paint.

Considerations

A hand covered with gold leaf.

Many methods of gilding objects have developed throughout history. The methods vary from relatively simple to extremely complex. The more complex the method, the more costly potential mistakes become. Individuals undertaking simple gilding projects with gold leaf can purchase materials at arts and crafts stores. For those who want to undertake more complex or larger gilding projects, the Society of Gilders (societyofgilders.org), a nonprofit organization provides education and expertise in the art of gilding.

Conclusion

Gilded picture frame.

Gilding, the art of decorating objects with gold, has existed for thousands of years. It began with disguising less precious metals by covering them with sheets of gold. The sheets became thinner with time until they were called gold leaf. Gold leaf is still used today, in both solid and liquid form, to embellish home décor objects.

References

• Webster's Online Dictionary: Definitions: Gild
• "Gold Bulletin"; Gilding Through the Ages; Andrew Oddy; 1981
• The School of Applied Arts: History: Gilding

Resources

• Society of Gilders: Home
• Gilded Planet: Gilding Basics 101