Gilding in the 18th Century: Craftsmanship and Luxury

113 products

113 products
George II gesso Girandole Wall Mirror, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the George II gesso Girandole Wall Mirror, photographed from another angle
George II gesso Girandole Wall Mirror
George III Giltwood Pier Mirror 175x94cm, 18th-century, Rococo, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the George III Giltwood Pier Mirror 175x94cm, 18th-century, Rococo, glass
George III Giltwood Pier Mirror 175x94cm
Irish Regency Convex Mirror Signed Arthur Williams, circa 1815, giltwood and ebonised – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Irish Regency Convex Mirror Signed Arthur Williams, circa 1815, giltwood and ebonised
Irish Regency Convex Mirror Signed Arthur Williams
17th century Italian Baroque cabinet with lapis lazuli and agate inlays, ebony exterior – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the 17th Century Italian Cabinet, circa 1650, Baroque, ebony and crystal
17th Century Italian Cabinet
George I Gesso Pier Mirror, 18th-century, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the George I Gesso Pier Mirror, 18th-century, glass, photographed from another angle
George I Gesso Pier Mirror
Monumental 5ft Round Italian Mirror, 19th-century, Baroque, giltwood, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Monumental 5ft Round Italian Mirror, 19th-century, Baroque, giltwood
Monumental 5ft Round Italian Mirror
Federal Parcel Gilt Overmantle Mirror, circa 1800, ebonised and glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Federal Parcel Gilt Overmantle Mirror, circa 1800, ebonised and glass
Federal Parcel Gilt Overmantle Mirror
Monumental Carved and Gilded Imperial Eagle with Agate Eyes and Malachite Laurel Wreath, giltwood – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Monumental Carved and Gilded Imperial Eagle with Agate Eyes and Malachite Laurel Wreath, giltwood
Monumental Carved and Gilded Imperial Eagle with Agate Eyes and Malachite Laurel Wreath
Austin of Shoreditch grandfather clock with red japanned chinoiserie design, circa 1720 England – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Austin of Shoreditch, 18th-century, George I, brass and japanned
Austin of Shoreditch
Central Italian 17th Century Baroque Giltwood Mirror 161x136cm, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Central Italian 17th Century Baroque Giltwood Mirror 161x136cm
Central Italian 17th Century Baroque Giltwood Mirror 161x136cm
George II Giltwood Pier Mirror, 18th-century, Rococo, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the George II Giltwood Pier Mirror, 18th-century, Rococo, photographed from another angle
George II Giltwood Pier Mirror
Large Scale 5ft Oval Blue and Clear Border Glass Mirror, 19th-century, Victorian, giltwood – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Large Scale 5ft Oval Blue and Clear Border Glass Mirror, 19th-century, Victorian, giltwood
Large Scale 5ft Oval Blue and Clear Border Glass Mirror
Pair of Russian Gilt Bronze 5 Light Candelabra, 19th-century, Neoclassical, ormolu – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the pair of Russian Gilt Bronze 5 Light Candelabra, 19th-century, Neoclassical, ormolu
Pair of Russian Gilt Bronze 5 Light Candelabra
Pair of George III Giltwood Oval Mirrors, circa 1770, Neo-Classical, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the pair of George III Giltwood Oval Mirrors, circa 1770, Neo-Classical, glass
Pair of George III Giltwood Oval Mirrors
Chinoiserie Black Japanned Overmantel Mirror, 19th-century, Victorian, giltwood and glass – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Chinoiserie Black Japanned Overmantel Mirror, 19th-century, Victorian, giltwood and glass
Chinoiserie Black Japanned Overmantel Mirror
A fine pair of giltwood girandoles, English, 19th Century, in the manner of William France, Georgian
Alternative view of the fine pair of giltwood girandoles, English, 19th Century, in the manner of William France, Georgian
A fine pair of giltwood girandoles, English, 19th Century, in the manner of William France
English Regency Giltwood Convex Mirror, 19th-century, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
English Regency Giltwood Convex Mirror
Regency Convex Mirror with a Black Eagle, giltwood and glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Regency Convex Mirror with a Black Eagle
A pair of George III giltwood Lily wall-brackets, circa 1780, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the pair of George III giltwood Lily wall-brackets, circa 1780
A pair of George III giltwood Lily wall-brackets
Pair of 19th-century Siberian amethyst urns with gilt bronze mounts, Napoleon III style – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the pair of Siberian Amethyst Urns, circa 1870, Napoleon III, gilt bronze
Pair of Siberian Amethyst Urns
Louis XVI Revival Bonheur Du Jour, By Diehl, 19th-century, Napoleon III, mahogany and ormolu, by Charles Guillaume Diehl
Alternative view of the Louis XVI Revival Bonheur Du Jour, By Diehl, 19th-century, Napoleon III, mahogany and ormolu
Louis XVI Revival Bonheur Du Jour | By Diehl
Late 19th-century French mantel clock with white marble, gilt bronze, and a bronze lady figure reading
Alternative view of the Fine French Neo Classical Mantel Clock, 19th-century, marble and gilt bronze
A Fine French Neo Classical Mantel Clock
George III Chinese Chippendale Rococo Giltwood Girandole Mirror, 18th-century, glass – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the George III Chinese Chippendale Rococo Giltwood Girandole Mirror, 18th-century, glass
George III Chinese Chippendale Rococo Giltwood Girandole Mirror
Regency Gilt and Bronze Dishlight, crystal, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Regency Gilt and Bronze Dishlight
Fine English 19th Century Regency Convex Mirror, giltwood and ebonised, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Fine English 19th Century Regency Convex Mirror, giltwood and ebonised
Fine English 19th Century Regency Convex Mirror
Napoleon III black marble clock set with gilt bronze neo-classical busts and urns – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Napoleon III Black Marble and Gilt Bronze Clock Set, circa 1860, ormolu
Napoleon III Black Marble and Gilt Bronze Clock Set
Pair of Neo Classical Canapés, 18th-century, Louis XVI, giltwood, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the pair of Neo Classical Canapés, 18th-century, Louis XVI, giltwood
Pair of Neo Classical Canapés
Georgian giltwood girandole mirror, 18th-century, George III, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Georgian giltwood girandole mirror, 18th-century, George III
Georgian giltwood girandole mirror
18th Century Gilt Carton-pierre Wall Mirror, George III, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
18th Century Gilt Carton-pierre Wall Mirror
Queen Anne Border Glass Giltwood Pier Mirror, 18th-century, Georgian, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Queen Anne Border Glass Giltwood Pier Mirror, 18th-century, Georgian
Queen Anne Border Glass Giltwood Pier Mirror
Pair of rare Louis XVI Weardale Fluorspar and ormolu urns with Satyr mask mounts – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the pair of Weardale Fluorspar and Ormolu Covered Urns, circa 1790, Louis XVI, gilt bronze
Pair of Weardale Fluorspar and Ormolu Covered Urns
Gilt bronze and marble clock garniture with cherub and candelabra circa 1870 France – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Gilt Bronze, Bronze and Marble Clock Set Garniture, circa 1870, ormolu
Gilt Bronze, Bronze and Marble Clock Set Garniture
George Bullock Breakfront Rosewood and Brass Inlaid Side Cabinet, 19th-century, Regency, marquetry – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the George Bullock Breakfront Rosewood and Brass Inlaid Side Cabinet, 19th-century, Regency, marquetry
George Bullock Breakfront Rosewood and Brass Inlaid Side Cabinet
John Linnell Oval Gilt Mirror, 18th-century, George III, giltwood and glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the John Linnell Oval Gilt Mirror, 18th-century, George III, giltwood and glass
John Linnell Oval Gilt Mirror
Pair of Louis XVI gilt bronze cassolettes, ormolu, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the pair of Louis XVI gilt bronze cassolettes, ormolu, photographed from another angle
Pair of Louis XVI gilt bronze cassolettes
A Queen Anne Silvered Mirror Sconce 90x57cm, 18th-century, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Queen Anne Silvered Mirror Sconce 90x57cm, 18th-century, glass
A Queen Anne Silvered Mirror Sconce 90x57cm
Pair of Neo-Classical Twin Branch Wall Lights, 19th-century, pine, by Jean-Louis Prieur – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the pair of Neo-Classical Twin Branch Wall Lights, 19th-century, pine, by Jean-Louis Prieur
Pair of Neo-Classical Twin Branch Wall Lights
Restauration gilt-bronze vase with rams’ heads and grapevine details on square plinth – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Restauration Gilt-Bronze Vase, circa 1830, photographed from another angle
Restauration Gilt-Bronze Vase
16th Century Italian Florentine giltwood frame with intricate carvings vintage decor – Nicholas Wells Antiques
16th Century Italian Florentine Giltwood Frame
19th Century Giltwood Throne Chair after William Kent, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the 19th Century Giltwood Throne Chair after William Kent, photographed from another angle
19th Century Giltwood Throne Chair after William Kent

In the 18th century, gilding was central to the decorative arts, transforming wood, metal, porcelain, and architectural details into dazzling statements of wealth and taste. From the splendour of Rococo France to the refined Neoclassicism of the Louis XVI era, gilding techniques embodied both artisanal skill and stylistic ambition.

Water Gilding

The most traditional method, water gilding involved laying gold leaf over gesso and bole (a red clay ground), then burnishing to a brilliant shine. It was the preferred finish for carved wood frames, mirrors, and fine furniture.

Oil Gilding

Applied over an oil-based adhesive, oil gilding produced a softer glow but greater durability, making it well-suited for architectural decoration, signboards, and less delicate surfaces.

Mercury Gilding (Fire Gilding)

Used extensively for metalwork, mercury gilding fused gold to bronze mounts, clock cases, and lighting. Though highly toxic to produce, the results were unmatched in richness and durability.

Ormolu (Gilt Bronze)

Ormolu refers to gilt-bronze mounts produced by mercury gilding, cast and chiselled with exquisite detail. These mounts adorned Louis XV and Louis XVI furniture, clocks, and objets d’art, epitomising French luxury.

Gilding on Porcelain

Porcelain factories such as Sèvres, Chelsea, and Meissen perfected the art of applying gold paste or leaf after glazing, then re-firing at low temperatures. This produced the delicate trelliswork and floral highlights that became a hallmark of 18th-century porcelain.

Punch and Stipple Gilding

Frames, furniture, and interiors were often given texture by punching or stippling into the gilded surface, creating shimmering contrasts between matte and burnished areas.

Today, gilded antiques are prized for their craftsmanship, beauty, and historical resonance. From ormolu-mounted furniture to porcelain enlivened with gold, these pieces remain enduring symbols of 18th-century elegance and refinement.
Recently viewed