Oil Gilding and Gilt Surfaces Explained

Oil gilding uses a tacky size to attach metal leaf. It is durable and suited to carved wood, metal, architectural elements and areas that cannot be burnished like water gilding.

What to look for

Inspect wear patterns, leaf colour and underlying preparation. Brass leaf and metallic paints may have been used in later decoration or repair and can tarnish differently from gold.

Common mistakes

Harsh polish can abrade the leaf. Water and solvents may affect the size or coatings, while repeated regilding can soften carved detail.

Care and repair

Record inscriptions and old layers before treatment. Cleaning tests should be performed by someone familiar with historic gilding systems.

References and further reading

• [V&A furniture collection](https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/furniture)
• [Canadian Conservation Institute: agents of deterioration](https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/agents-deterioration.html)

This article is educational. Test treatments cautiously and consult a conservator before altering a valuable or historically important object.

Watch the workshop approach

See conservation-minded repairs, examinations and techniques on the [Antique Repair Shop YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@AntiqueRepairShop).