Verre Églomisé, the Art of Gilding on Glass

Verre églomisé is the art of decorating glass from behind, usually with gold or silver leaf. The leaf is laid on the back of a sheet of glass, a design is drawn or engraved through it, and the back is then covered with paint or another layer of glass, so the gilding is seen through the front, bright and protected. Britannica defines it as glass engraved on the back after being covered with unfired painting or, usually, gold or silver leaf. The same reverse gilding is what traditional signwriters use for gold leaf lettering on shop windows and glass doors.

Here we look at where the name comes from, how glass gilding is done, where you see it, and how to look after it. We have checked the history against Britannica and the method against signwriters' and gilding suppliers' guidance.

What verre églomisé means

The phrase is French. Verre simply means glass, and églomisé comes from a person's name. In everyday use, verre églomisé describes any decorative panel where gold or silver leaf, often combined with paint, is applied to the reverse face of glass to give a shining, mirror like finish. The design is worked in reverse, so what the maker sees from behind is a mirror image of what you see from the front.

Because the decoration sits behind the glass, the glass itself becomes a protective cover. The leaf is never touched or wiped, which is a large part of why gilded glass can stay bright for so long.

Where the name comes from

The technique is named after Jean-Baptiste Glomy, an eighteenth century French picture framer who died in 1786. Britannica explains that he used the process on the glass mounts of pictures, decorating them with a combination of plain colour and gilding, and his name stuck to the method.

The technique itself is much older than Glomy. Britannica traces it back to late antiquity and Early Christian times. It was revived in Italy between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, used in Holland and Spain in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and became popular in France, England and the United States in the eighteenth century. Gilded and painted glass appears on picture frames and clock cases, and in the late eighteenth century as decorative panels on mirrors in the style associated with Sheraton.

How gilding on glass is done

Glass gilding is a form of water gilding, but instead of gesso and bole the adhesive is a weak solution of gelatine in water. Signwriters' guides describe the steps in a similar order.

• Clean the glass. The back of the glass is cleaned repeatedly until water sheets evenly across it, because any grease will show.
• Plan in reverse. The design is drawn as a mirror image, since it will be worked from the back. Outlines in paint are often laid first.
• Flood with gelatine size. The gelatine solution is brushed on so it flows over the area to be gilded.
• Lay the leaf. Gold leaf is lifted with a gilder's tip and laid onto the wet glass, where the size draws it flat. Sheets overlap slightly.
• Buff and gild again. Once dry, the gold is gently buffed with cotton wool, which brightens it. A second layer of leaf is often added to fill tiny gaps.
• Design and back up. For églomisé, a fine design can be drawn or engraved through the leaf. For lettering, the letters are painted over on the back with a backing paint, then the surplus gold is cleaned away, leaving gilded letters behind their protective coat.

The finish depends on the gold and the size. Gilding on glass with gelatine can be very bright and reflective, and many signs combine the gold with painted outlines, shading and colour.

Where you see verre églomisé and glass gilding

Historically, verre églomisé appeared on picture mounts, clock faces and cases, panels set into mirrors and frames, furniture, and small panels set into reliquaries and portable altars. In more recent history the same reverse gilding became a staple of window signs and advertising mirrors, on shop fronts, pubs and office doors.

Today it is still used for exactly those things, as well as for decorative panels in interiors, including mirror surrounds, cabinet doors and wall panels where a gilded pattern seen through glass gives depth that paint alone cannot.

Gold leaf signs and lettering on glass

Gold leaf sign writing on glass is the form of glass gilding most people meet every day, even if they have never heard the term verre églomisé. Window lettering is applied to the inside of the glass and read from the street, so the gold is shielded from rain and cleaning while still catching the light.

Zavoré lays gold leaf lettering and signs on boards and on glass, as part of our gilding work across the UK, including London, Birmingham and Manchester. If you are thinking about a gilded glass panel or an églomisé style piece for a mirror, a cabinet or a wall, ask us and we will talk through what is possible for your project.

Caring for gilded glass

Because the gold sits on the back of the glass, the front can be cleaned like ordinary glass with a soft cloth and a mild glass cleaner. Take more care with the back. Avoid scraping, abrasive pads, blades and strong solvents anywhere near the gilded side or its backing paint, and keep it dry. On a shop window, that means the inside face, so make sure anyone cleaning the windows knows where the lettering is.

Antique pieces of verre églomisé are fragile and often irreplaceable. If one is chipped, flaking or loose in its frame, it is best looked at by a specialist before anything is cleaned or refixed.

Questions we get asked

How do you pronounce verre églomisé?

Roughly vair ay glom ee zay. Many people simply call it reverse gilding or gilding on glass.

Is the gold on a window sign real gold?

Traditional window signs are gilded with genuine gold leaf, often 23 carat. High carat gold does not tarnish, which suits work that is meant to last for years.

Why is window lettering put on the inside?

Working on the inside face means the gilding is protected by the glass itself from weather and from daily cleaning, while the letters are still read clearly from outside.

Can Zavoré make a verre églomisé panel?

We lay gold leaf lettering and signs on glass. For decorative glass panels, ask us about your idea and we will tell you honestly what we can do.

Where to go next. See our gilding service, follow our guide on how to apply gold leaf, compare water gilding and oil gilding, or read about gilded mirror restoration. To talk about a sign or a panel, get in touch, email support@zavore.co.uk or call or WhatsApp 07592 929191.