Introduction to Glass Gilding

Gilding has always been regarded as one of the more beguiling and mysterious of crafts. The thin sheets of gold leaf are beautiful, almost ethereal, and very enjoyable to work with.

Gilding on glass takes on an added visual quality. The gold is applied on the back or underside of the glass and is often combined with painting. The work is therefore protected from the front and has a particular clarity that comes from viewing through the glass.

Working on the back of the glass means working in reverse. Lettering is done in mirror image and painting is done with the highlights and detailing first and finishes with the background. Hence the term: reverse glass painting.

It doesn't have a painterly surface texture because it takes on the smooth surface of the glass and therefore looks almost printed.

Gilding on glass has close similarities with the other traditional methods of surface gilding. The two basic methods are water gilding for a bright mirror-like finish and oil gilding which is used to achieve a matt finish. Basic gold leaf window signwriting is most often water gilded. This can be combined with many other techniques and reverse painting for an unlimited variety of ways to decorate glass and form lettering.

The overriding characteristic is that of reflectivity. Glass gilding utilises the brilliant lustre of metal in a most striking way. The art is visually akin to jewellery, almost a cross between jewellery and painting. It relies on external illumination for the full effect and the appearance changes at different viewing angles.