Gilding

We preserve and conserve giltwood surfaces such as period frames and mirrors, gilded furniture and antiques. We work on water gilding and oil gilding. 

Our main goal is always to retain as much of the original surface as possible, and stabilizing the unstable substrate using conservation adhesives is often the first step of the treatment.

In repairing losses, we like to use traditional techniques such as rabbit skin glue gesso which offers better compatibility with the existing materials. 

Metal leaves, like gold, come in many alloys and colors. We select the appropriate hue to match the original material, then tone it to match its surroundings. 

Because a gilt surface is composed of multiple strata of materials with different properties and solubilities, the conservation of any gilt surface, especially the removal of previous repairs and restoration, can be challenging. Mastering the MCP (Modular CLeaning Program) to create custom gels, emulsions, and aqueous solutions is paramount and offer more treatment flexibility.

Gilded surfaces are historical documents in their own right. Losses and prior repairs are treated individually, and original gilding is retained wherever it is stable rather than removed for the sake of a uniform finish. Where regilding is necessary, leaf metal and tone are matched by hand so new work reads honestly alongside what survives from the original surface.