A Royal Worcester vitreous china figure of a water carrier,…
click the photo to enlarge
A Royal Worcester vitreous china figure of a water carrier, 1891 in a draped gilded robe kneeling with an urn on her hip, 15 cm high. Printed green factory mark, impressed numbers 01/01. Provenance: Private collection NSW

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Gilding - Gilding is a method of ornamentation whereby a thin sheet of gold metal is applied to items made of wood, leather, ceramics, glass and silver for decorative purposes.

    For furniture including mirrors, the sheet of gold is usually applied over a coating of gesso. Gesso is a mixture of plaster of Paris and gypsum mixed with water and then applied to the carved wooden frames of mirrors and picture frames as a base for applying the gold leaf. After numerous coats of gesso have been applied, allowed to dry and then sanded a coat of "bole", a usually red coloured mixture of clay and glue is brushed on and allowed to dry, after which the gold leaf is applied. Over time parts of the gilding will rub off so the base colour can be seen. In water gilding, this was generally a blue colour, while in oil gilding, the under layer was often yellow. In Victorian times, gilders frequently used red as a pigment beneath the gold leaf.

    Metal was often gilded by a process known as fire gilding. Gold mixed with mercury was applied and heated, causing the mercury to evaporate, the long-term effect of which was to kill or disable the craftsman or woman from mercury poisoning. The pursuit of beauty has claimed many victims, not the least of which were the artists who made those pieces so highly sought after today.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

Royal Doulton large model of Bulldog wearing Tam O'Shanter in tan colourway

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A 19th century Japanese ivory netsuke, young boy and Shishi Mai, Meiji period, a charming study of boy with traditional lion dance costume, signed, 4.5 cm high

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A fine Japanese carved ivory okimono, of a seated sennin holding a staff with reishi mushroom and gourd lashed to the top, a toad perches on his left shoulder and balances on his raised left hand. Some age cracks and minor repair to staff. Incised five cha

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A Royal Doulton World War I bulldog in khaki tone, wearing a khaki green tam o'shanter, kilt, shoulder bag and pouch, HN153, printed marks to base including registration no. 663408. Height 17.5 cm

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.