Antique 19th century French giltwood & gesso mirror, approx 154…
click the photo to enlarge
Antique 19th century French giltwood & gesso mirror, approx 154 cm x 94 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.
  • Gesso - 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 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. In painting, gesso is also used to prime a canvas prior to applying paint.
  • Giltwood - Giltwood is used to describe a gold finish on furniture and other decorative wooden items, whereby a thin sheet of gold metal, called gold leaf, is applied to the surface for decorative purposes.

    Unlike gilding, where the gold leaf is applied over a coating of gesso, with giltwood the gold leaf is applied direct to the surface, or over a coat of linseed oil gold leaf adhesive.

    Most gold-finished mirrors will be gilded, whereas furniture with gold highlights will have the gold applied through the giltwood method.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

Antique French 19th century canted top gilt wood mirror, applied swags of bell flowers, each approx 183 cm high, 120 cm wide

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

Antique mid 19th century giltwood surround mirror, with carved scroll & shell crest, approx 178 cm high, 106 cm wide

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

Pair of Chinoiserie cushion shaped wall mirrors each surmounted with carved and gilded putti and scrolls, approx 134 cm high, 56 cm wide

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

Antique French gilt surround mirror with applied C scrolls crest and flowers, approx 158 cm high, 106 cm wide

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