How Traditional Water Gilding Works

Water gilding lays extremely thin metal leaf over a prepared ground, commonly gesso and coloured bole. Burnishing can create a mirror-like surface while matte passages add contrast.

What to look for

On frames and carved furniture, look for bole showing through worn high points and for joins between leaf squares. Later metallic paint lacks the same optical depth.

Common mistakes

Do not wipe gilding with water or polish. Loose gesso can detach with almost no warning, and overcleaning removes intentional toning and historic repairs.

Care and repair

Dust only when the surface is secure, using a very soft brush and low suction nearby. Flaking requires a gilding conservator.

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).