About Us

Mission:

Our mission is to provide studio artists with the chemicals, tools and techniques they need to explore the creative potential of reflective glass.

About Us:

Glass can be cut, beveled, glue-chipped, acid-etched, sand-blasted, slumped, fused and blown to change the way it transmits light. We show you how to change the way glass reflects light using the four colors of metal - gold, copper, silver and gunmetal blue or galena.

Our formulas are derived from practical experience. European sign shops have been using them for nearly a century. With the growing demand for hand-crafted glass, we thought it was time to share these “secrets” with you.

The tradition of making mirrors without machines is well established. From 1835, when silver replaced mercury as the metal of choice for mirrors, until the 1950's, when conveyor lines were developed, dissolved silver was poured on the glass by hand. This photograph was taken at the Pittsburgh Plate Glass factory in 1923.

Innovative design and craftsmanship come from knowing the history and the science of the craft. We have the chemical expertise to understand how and why our solutions work. We have done the experimental and historical research to know which formulas work and which have been frustrating failures.

Silver mirrors reflect light without adding color. Color and light are the essence of art. A fully deposited Galena mirror is the color of polished hematite - or if you stop the deposition early, you get a rich purple/blue reflection. A copper mirror looks like copper when it reflects the light; the light it transmits is a deep blue/green. Angel Gilding can be richer and deeper than 24 karat gold leaf or you can make it as light as 16 karat leaf – without any lap lines or pin holes.

When you are the mirror-maker, the reflections are yours to control. Your beautiful work will reflect your vision and skill.

At AngelGilding.com we welcome your comments and questions - how else will we know if we can help you complete your masterpiece?