Gilding in the 18th Century: Craftsmanship and Luxury

113 products

113 products
Japanned and gilt-decorated fireplace bellows with raised circular boss, elegant design – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Japanned and Gilt-Decorated Fireplace Bellows, In the Manner of Giles Grendey, circa 1740, brass
Japanned and Gilt-Decorated Fireplace Bellows | In the Manner of Giles Grendey
Pair Of Green Painted And Gold Italian Side Chairs, circa 1900, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the pair Of Green Painted And Gold Italian Side Chairs, circa 1900
Pair Of Green Painted And Gold Italian Side Chairs
Bohemian Gilt Beakers, circa 1780, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Bohemian Gilt Beakers, circa 1780, glass, photographed from another angle
Bohemian Gilt Beakers
Royal Worcester 1970’s Porcelain Gold Lustre Teapot, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Royal Worcester 1970’s Porcelain Gold Lustre Teapot, photographed from another angle
Royal Worcester 1970’s Porcelain Gold Lustre Teapot
Japanese Red Lacquered Sake Vessel, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Japanese Red Lacquered Sake Vessel, photographed from another angle
Japanese Red Lacquered Sake Vessel
£POA
Japanese Lacquered Kimono Chest (Ishō-bako), brass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Japanese Lacquered Kimono Chest (Ishō-bako), brass, photographed from another angle
Japanese Lacquered Kimono Chest (Ishō-bako)
£POA
19th Century Chinese Cloisonné Vase Mounted as a Lamp, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
19th Century Chinese Cloisonné Vase Mounted as a Lamp
£POA
Pair of Vintage Glass Vase Table Lamps, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Pair of Vintage Glass Vase Table Lamps
£POA
Imari Vase Mounted as a Lamp, circa 1880, porcelain, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Imari Vase Mounted as a Lamp, circa 1880, porcelain, photographed from another angle
Imari Vase Mounted as a Lamp
£POA
Pink Silvered Glass Vase Mounted as a Table Lamp, Art Deco, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Pink Silvered Glass Vase Mounted as a Table Lamp, Art Deco
Pink Silvered Glass Vase Mounted as a Table Lamp
£POA
Japanese Patinated Bronze Lamp, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Japanese Patinated Bronze Lamp
£POA
Pair of Wooden Lamp Bases with Patinated Foil and Gilt Pearls, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Pair of Wooden Lamp Bases with Patinated Foil and Gilt Pearls
£POA
Landscape with Dramatic Sky and Watermill, oil on canvas, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Landscape with Dramatic Sky and Watermill, oil on canvas
Landscape with Dramatic Sky and Watermill
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Lacquered rootwood scholar’s rock, now mounted as a table lamp, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Lacquered rootwood scholar’s rock, now mounted as a table lamp
Lacquered rootwood scholar’s rock, now mounted as a table lamp
£POA
A small giltwood George III mirror, circa 1760, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the small giltwood George III mirror, circa 1760, photographed from another angle
A small giltwood George III mirror
£POA
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Baccarat Cut Glass Column Lamp, Early 19th Century, circa 1820, gilt bronze, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Baccarat Cut Glass Column Lamp | Early 19th Century
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Pair Of White Opaline And Gilt Glass Charles X Candlesticks, circa 1825, gilt bronze – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Pair Of White Opaline And Gilt Glass Charles X Candlesticks
£POA
Chippendale Candelabra Centrepiece – The Fable of the Crow and Snake, giltwood and limewood – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Chippendale Candelabra Centrepiece – The Fable of the Crow and Snake, giltwood and limewood
Chippendale Candelabra Centrepiece – The Fable of the Crow and Snake
£POA
Set of Four French Neoclassical Gilt Bronze Wall Lights, circa 1870, Louis XVI, ormolu – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the set of Four French Neoclassical Gilt Bronze Wall Lights, circa 1870, Louis XVI, ormolu
SET OF FOUR FRENCH NEOCLASSICAL GILT BRONZE WALL LIGHTS
£POA
A mid century gilt bronze and glass pendant glass lantern, circa 1930, Mid-Century – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the mid century gilt bronze and glass pendant glass lantern, circa 1930, Mid-Century
A mid century gilt bronze and glass pendant glass lantern
£POA
Pair of elegant opaline glass vases with floral motifs and gold detailing, 19th-century French design
Alternative view of the pair of Opaline Glass Vases and Covers, photographed from another angle
Pair of Opaline Glass Vases and Covers
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19th century Italian Blackamoor figure in gilt attire holding torchere on painted plinth – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the 19th Century Giltwood and Ebonised Blackamoor, circa 1870
19th Century Giltwood and Ebonised Blackamoor
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Large Chinese green jade bowl on ornate gold stand, carved from solid jade, 26 cm tall, 33.5 cm diameter
Alternative view of the Large Chinese Greed Jade bowl on stand, photographed from another angle
Large Chinese Greed Jade bowl on stand
£POA
Sèvres Porcelain Blue Celeste Ormolu Mounted Mantel Clock, circa 1840, gilt bronze – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Sèvres Porcelain Blue Celeste Ormolu Mounted Mantel Clock, circa 1840, gilt bronze
Sèvres Porcelain Blue Celeste Ormolu Mounted Mantel Clock
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Pair of green marble and gilt bronze urns with classical sphinx motifs, circa 1880 Italy – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the pair of Marble and Ormolu Classical urns, circa 1880, Victorian, gilt bronze
Pair of Marble and Ormolu Classical urns
£POA
Neo-Classical faceted glass vase with gilded ormolu mounts, circa 1800 Northern Europe or Russia – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Neo-Classical Ormolu mounted Faceted Glass Vase, circa 1800
Neo-Classical Ormolu mounted Faceted Glass Vase
£POA
Napoleon III Sevres and ormolu clock with painted courting couple and krater vase – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Napoleon III Sevres And Ormolu Clock, circa 1870, porcelain
A Napoleon III Sevres And Ormolu Clock
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Rococo Ormolu, Malachite Table, 19th-century, gilt bronze, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Rococo Ormolu, Malachite Table, 19th-century, gilt bronze
Rococo Ormolu | Malachite Table
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Pair of Antique Neo Classical Giltwood and Marble Monopedia Console Tables, circa 1820, Regency – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the pair of Antique Neo Classical Giltwood and Marble Monopedia Console Tables, circa 1820, Regency
Pair of Antique Neo Classical Giltwood and Marble Monopedia Console Tables
£POA
Substantial oval giltwood mirror, 19th-century, Victorian, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Substantial oval giltwood mirror, 19th-century, Victorian, glass
Substantial oval giltwood mirror
£POA
19th Century Giltwood Overmantel Mirror, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the 19th Century Giltwood Overmantel Mirror, glass, photographed from another angle
19th Century Giltwood Overmantel Mirror
£POA
Overmantel Mirror from Embley Park, 19th-century, giltwood and glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Overmantel Mirror from Embley Park, 19th-century, giltwood and glass
Overmantel Mirror from Embley Park
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18th Century Carton Pierre Gilt Wall Mirror, George III, giltwood and glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the 18th Century Carton Pierre Gilt Wall Mirror, George III, giltwood and glass
18th Century Carton Pierre Gilt Wall Mirror
£POA

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.
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