Heidi Norton
Ormolu is a gilding technique where finely ground, high-carat gold-mercury amalgam is applied to an object of bronze. The French refer to this technique as bronze doré, while in English, it is known as gilt bronze. Ormolu was principally used for the decorative mountings of furniture, clocks, lighting devices, and porcelain. In the 18th and 19th centuries, French furniture designers and cabinetmakers made maximum use of the exquisite gilt-bronze mounts produced by fondeurs-ciseleurs (founders and finishers). Ormolu perfume bottles, such as the mid-1800s French Palais-Royal bottle and the delicate gold ormolu filigree bottle, are examples of ormolu's application in the decorative arts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ormolu | A gilding technique of applying finely ground, high-carat gold-mercury amalgam to an object of bronze |
| Origin of the term | French 'or moulu' meaning 'ground/pounded gold' |
| Other names | Bronze doré (French), gilt bronze (English) |
| Manufacturing process | A solution of mercuric nitrate is applied to copper, brass, or bronze, followed by an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item is then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury vaporizes and the gold remains |
| Use | Ormolu is used for the decorative mountings of furniture, clocks, lighting devices, and porcelain |
| History | Ormolu vases and perfume burners were produced in the Neoclassical style in Birmingham, England, in the late 1760s by Matthew Boulton |
| Notable examples | Neoclassical mantel clock (1757-1760) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Ormolu clock and candelabra at the Palace of Versailles in France |
| Ormolu perfume bottle characteristics | Delicate design with oval beveled glass, intricate sculptural details, and a large dauber that replicates the ormolu motif |
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What You'll Learn
Ormolu is a gilding technique
Ormolu techniques have been used to decorate furniture, clocks, lighting devices, and porcelain. Craftsmen have principally used ormolu for the decorative mountings of these objects, with the finished gilt-bronze pieces resembling the fine work of jewellers. Ormolu mountings attained their highest artistic and technical development in France, where the great French furniture designers and cabinetmakers of the 18th and 19th centuries made maximum use of the exquisite gilt-bronze mounts.
Ormolu was also commonly used for lighting devices, such as chandeliers and candelabras, as well as ornamental metal mounts applied to clock cases and ceramic pieces. In the hands of Parisian marchands-merciers, ormolu or gilt-bronze sculptures were used for bright, non-oxidizing fireplace accessories, Rococo or Neoclassical mantel-clocks, and wall-mounted clock cases.
The term "ormolu" has evolved over time. After 1830, legislation in France outlawed the use of mercury for health reasons, although it continued to be employed until the 1900s. From the 19th century onwards, the term ormolu was used more broadly to refer to gilt metal or imitation gold. Other gilding techniques, such as electroplating, were also introduced.
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The technique uses finely ground gold-mercury amalgam
Ormolu is a technique for gilding a bronze object using a finely ground gold-mercury amalgam. The technique has been used since antiquity across Eurasia, especially in Chinese art, and later in France, where it reached its highest artistic and technical development.
The process involves applying a solution of mercuric nitrate to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, and then applying the gold-mercury amalgam. The object is then placed in a kiln, where it is exposed to extreme heat, burning off the mercury and leaving behind a gold coating. This process is also known as mercury gilding or fire gilding.
The use of ormolu was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries for creating decorative mountings for furniture, clocks, lighting devices, and porcelain. The technique was used to create exquisite gilt-bronze mounts, which were often compared to the fine work of jewellers.
However, due to the health risks associated with mercury, the use of ormolu has declined, and other techniques such as electroplating have become more common. Despite this, the rich colour and durability achieved with the ormolu technique are still highly regarded.
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Ormolu was used for decorative mountings
Ormolu, an 18th- and 19th-century technique, was used for decorative mountings of furniture, clocks, lighting devices, and porcelain. Craftsmen principally used the technique for these mountings, which were made from gilt-bronze.
French furniture designers and cabinetmakers, or ébénistes, of the time made use of the exquisite gilt-bronze mounts produced by fondeurs-ciseleurs (founders and finishers). The renowned Jacques Caffieri (1678–1755), for example, created finished gilt-bronze pieces that were almost as fine as jewellers' work.
Ormolu mountings reached their highest artistic and technical development in France. Lighting devices, such as chandeliers and candelabras, were adorned with ormolu, as well as clock cases and ceramic pieces. Parisian marchands-merciers, the precursors of decorators, used ormolu for bright, non-oxidising fireplace accessories and for Rococo or Neoclassical mantel-clocks or wall-mounted clock-cases.
The ormolu technique was also used extensively in French Empire mantel clocks, reaching its peak during this period. Chinese and European porcelains mounted in gilt-bronze were luxury wares that heightened the impact of often-costly and ornamental ceramic pieces sometimes used purely for display.
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The French refer to ormolu as bronze doré
Ormolu is a gold-coloured alloy of copper, zinc, and sometimes tin, which usually contains at least 50% copper. The French refer to ormolu as "bronze doré", meaning gilded bronze. The term "ormolu" comes from the French "dorure d'or moulu", which means "gilding with gold paste".
The technique of creating ormolu involves mixing powdered gold with mercury to form a paste that is brushed onto a cast form, typically bronze. The item is then fired at a high temperature, causing the mercury to evaporate and leaving a gold deposit on the surface. This process, known as mercury gilding or fire gilding, was dangerous due to the toxic mercury fumes and has since been replaced by electroplating or gold plating.
Ormolu was extensively used in French Empire mantel clocks, sconces, candelabras, and furniture during the 18th and 19th centuries. It was a cornerstone of neoclassical and Empire styles, highly sought after by the French elite, including King Louis XVI and Napoleon I. Ormolu was also used in Chinese and European porcelains, creating luxury wares that enhanced the impact of ornamental ceramic pieces.
The production of ormolu required tremendous skill and was considered an art form. Master craftsmen who worked with ormolu include Jean-Jacques Caffieri, Pierre Gouthière, and Pierre-Philippe Thomire in France, as well as Matthew Boulton in England.
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Ormolu was used for perfume bottles in the mid-1800s
Ormolu is a gilding technique where finely ground, high-carat gold-mercury amalgam is applied to an object made of bronze. The French refer to this technique as "bronze doré", while it is known as gilt bronze in English. Ormolu was principally used for the decorative mountings of furniture, clocks, lighting devices, and porcelain.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, French furniture designers and cabinetmakers, or ébénistes, made maximum use of the exquisite gilt-bronze mounts produced by fondeurs-ciseleurs (founders and finishers). Ormolu mountings attained their highest artistic and technical development in France. Similarly fine results could be achieved for lighting devices, such as chandeliers and candelabras, as well as for the ornamental metal mounts applied to clock cases and ceramic pieces.
In the mid-1800s, ormolu was used for perfume bottles, as seen in the example of a mid-1800s French Palais-Royal ormolu perfume bottle. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver to produce silver-gilt (also known as vermeil). Around 1830, legislation in France outlawed the use of mercury for health reasons, though its use continued until around 1900 and, in very few workshops, until around 1960.
One example of an ormolu perfume bottle is a delicate gold ormolu filigree perfume bottle with both sides made of oval bevelled glass. The transparent interior reveals a "rose bush" sculptural detail, with branches appearing to grow out of the base. The large dauber replicates the "rose" ormolu motif, referencing an open and "airy" garden feeling.
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Frequently asked questions
Ormolu is a gilding technique where finely ground, high-carat gold–mercury amalgam is applied to an object made of bronze. The French refer to this technique as "bronze doré", whereas in English, it is known as "gilt bronze".
Ormolu mountings attained their highest artistic and technical development in France. Craftsmen principally used ormolu for the decorative mountings of furniture, clocks, lighting devices, and porcelain. In the 18th and 19th centuries, French furniture designers and cabinetmakers made maximum use of the exquisite gilt-bronze mounts produced by fondeurs-ciseleurs.
The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding. A solution of mercuric nitrate is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item is then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury vaporizes and the gold remains, adhering to the metal object.
Ormolu perfume bottles are made using the ormolu technique. These bottles are often decorative and feature intricate designs, such as a rose bush motif.
