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Where Artistry Begins
Short answer. Gilding means laying very thin sheets of metal leaf, such as gold, silver or copper, onto a prepared surface so it looks like solid metal. In Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, a district built on metalwork, it suits gilded alcoves, ceiling recesses, picked out mouldings and window lettering. Much of the Quarter is a conservation area with many listed buildings, so check with the council's conservation officer before booking work.
If you want it installed, our own applicators handle gilding and gold leaf installation from survey to final coat, including Venetian plastering in Birmingham.
The Jewellery Quarter, just north west of the city centre, has been home to jewellers, silversmiths and other metal trades for generations. Many of its brick workshops and factories are still used by jewellers today, while others have been turned into flats, offices, bars and studios.
That history makes gilding feel at home here. A touch of real gold in a converted workshop or a canal side flat connects the room to the work that went on in the building before.
Metal leaf is beaten so thin that it is lifted with a soft brush rather than the fingers. It is laid onto an adhesive called size, then pressed down, and the loose edges are brushed away. There are two main methods, water gilding and oil gilding, and our guide to water and oil gilding explains the difference.
Gold leaf does not tarnish. Silver leaf darkens over time unless it is sealed, and copper leaf changes colour as it ages. Some people like that change, while others want it held back with a sealer. Our article on gold, silver and copper leaf compares them.
Large parts of the Quarter are covered by a conservation area, and many buildings are listed. Listed building consent can be needed for internal work, including changes to original features. Ask Birmingham City Council's conservation officer before you book, and keep a record of their reply.
Gilding needs a smooth, sealed base, because every mark underneath shows through the leaf. Plaster, timber and glass can all be gilded once they are properly prepared. Because our studio is in Birmingham, a Quarter job is a short trip, and you can see gilded samples at our showroom by appointment. Gilding is slow, careful work, so allow time for the size to reach the right tack, the moment it is sticky enough to hold the leaf, and for any sealer to dry. More detail is on our gilding page.
To talk about gilding in the Jewellery Quarter, call 07592 929191 or email sales@zavore.co.uk. If the gilding will sit against plaster, order a sample board in your wall colour first. You can also see our Birmingham area page.
Gold leaf is real gold beaten extremely thin. There is also imitation leaf, usually made from brass, which looks similar at first but can dull over time unless it is sealed.
Yes. Gilding on the back of glass is called verre églomisé, and it can be used for mirrors, panels and shop windows.
Very little. Dust it gently with a soft brush and avoid cleaning sprays, which can damage the leaf or its sealer.
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