conservation of gilt surfaces
Objects may be part or completely gilded or silvered and we frequently work on gilt furniture, mirrors, carving and sculptures. There may be structural issues that require attention before the gilded surfaces can be restored. Our focus is on preserving and sometimes revealing historic gilding which may be hidden under layers of gold overpaint or later gilding.
Alongside modern conservation practice and materials, we use traditional techniques for new gilding and can gild objects and gilded interiors to historic specifications.
Gold and silver leaf is most often applied to a gesso ground which is susceptible to changes in humidity and can flake or delaminate from the surface and require consolidation. Surfaces can get dirty over time, and the different traditional gilding techniques (oil and water gilding), require different cleaning methods to prevent loss of gold. Detached or missing elements can be replaced with new carving or casting and the new gilding can be toned to match the original.
case studies
westminster abbey
Coronation footstool
We treated Queen Victoria’s coronation footstool as part of the programme of work for the new Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, Westminster Abbey, London. The stool was used in the 1838 ceremony and can be seen depicted in George Hayter’s painting below.
The original highly burnished water gilding and contrasting matter oil gilding was revealed underneath a layer of gold coloured ‘bronze powder’ paint. Gelled solvents were used to remove the grime and overpaint.
Areas of damage were filled and losses to the bosses were cast and all gilded to match.
The upholstery was conserved by the National Trust Textile Conservation Studio.
All images of this object © Dean and Chapter of Westminster
The Coronation of Queen Victoria in Westminster Abbey, 28 June 1838, George Hayter, 1839
Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2020
After treatment and after upholstery, installed in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
Pair of Gilded Brackets
This pair of seventeenth century carved and part gilded and painted brackets are part of the collection of architectural woodwork in Westminster Abbey. The gilding was flaking off and there was dirt embedded in the surface. The gilding was consolidated by introducing adhesive under each flake and then the surfaces were cleaned. The structure was stabilised to allow them to be safely displayed.
All images of this object © Dean and Chapter of Westminster
