Gilded furniture has always been a symbol of luxury and elegance. The Empire style, which took hold in the early 19th century and evoked the splendor of Napoleon's empire, was particularly fond of classical Greek and Roman motifs such as laurel wreaths and columns, which were often highlighted with gilding on dark, noble wood. An Empire-style chair arrived at our workshop to be restored to its original glory.
The chair was gilded not by hand painting, but by applying traditional gold leaf. This technique is one of the most noble and durable methods of classic furniture restoration. The surface of the wood was first coated with bolus, a special clay-based mixture. Then, mizsa, a water-based adhesive, was applied to the dry surface, onto which 23-carat gold leaf was carefully applied with a soft brush. Finally, the dried gold layer was polished with agate stone for a perfect shine and then coated with a protective layer.
The craft of gilding has been around for centuries. From ancient Egypt to medieval churches to Renaissance and Baroque palaces, gilding has always been a symbol of power and prosperity. In Hungary, during the Baroque and Classicist periods, not only church altars and sculptures, but also aristocratic salon furniture were made with this decoration. The names of renowned masters such as György Krammer, József Hoffer, and Antal Ritter, who became famous for their gilded furniture and frames in the 18th and 19th centuries, preserve this tradition.
We were fortunate enough to work with Éva Kovács, a gilding artist with decades of experience, on this piece.
During the restoration, we did not focus solely on the gilding, but also restored the entire structure of the chair. First, we reattached the loose taps to make the furniture stable and safe again. We then sanded the wooden surface and used a classic, manual polishing technique to bring out the natural beauty of the wood.
The final step in the restoration of the chair was traditional upholstery. After complete dismantling, it was given beautiful and elegant upholstery that harmonizes perfectly with the gilded and polished parts of the chair.
23-carat gold leaf gilding is still one of the most noble processes in the world of furniture restoration, giving the furniture a timeless, elegant, and luxurious appearance.
