A pair of François-Theodore Legras glass vases, with enamelled…
click the photo to enlarge
A pair of François-Theodore Legras glass vases, with enamelled nasturtium decoration in yellow and green on a deep green ground, early 1900s, signed 'Legras' some gilding to rim. Height 25 cm

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

Modern Moorcroft specimen vase Florian flame pattern, signed R Bishop 2009, no 119, 24.5 cm height, boxed

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

A Galle narrow neck tall cameo glass vase overlaid with stylised black trailing flowers and leaves to an amber ground, cameo signature Galle 40 cm high

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

An antique Chinese blue and white porcelain vase AF - rim reduced height 34.8 cm

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

A pair of c.1900 French Legras green glass enamelled and gilded vases, tall tapered cylindrical form with compressed squat circular bases, enamelled and gilded Art Nouveau decoration of evening primroses. Height 29.5 cm. Note: this shape is documented in t

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