Gilded oval picture frame with repeating leaf motifs, retailed…
click the photo to enlarge
gilded oval picture frame with repeating leaf motifs, retailed for J.C. Vickery Regent Street. Length 23.5 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

Pair of 18th century needlework maps in oval frames

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

A George IV sterling silver shaped circular salver by Joseph Craddock and William Reid, London 1823, with shell, acorn, egg and dart border and contemporary coat of arms 23 cm diameter, 580 grams

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

1934 2nd British Empire Games in London, Participation Medal 'British Empire Games/London/1934', bronze, 44 mm diameter, in original presentation case. Australia came 3rd in the medal tally at the London Games with 8 Gold, 4 Silver & 2 Bronze. The gold med

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

An 18th century portrait miniature, the Countess of Jersey, painted on ivory, in gold oval frame

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