Angel Gilding = gold + silver
Translucent Gold Mirrors
When you deposit a layer of gold on glass and protect it with clear lacquer, the gold is translucent. Light bouncing off of the gold gives the glass a golden glow. Light passing through the glass is sea green.
Reflective Gold Mirrors
When you add a layer of silver on top of the gold, the mirror is opaque and completely reflective. All of the light bounces back to the viewer. The mirror is as gold as a wedding ring.
Gold is where it all started for us
Our founder, Sarah King, was originally a stained glass artist. Her hunt for the process of making gold mirrors, like those found in the Chicago Bungalow windows around her led to her rediscovery of the Angel Gilding process.
To read more about this explore our "About Us" page here. The windows shown here demonstrate the beauty of gold mirror in stained glass - the outside of the window is as decorativee as the inside.
Making Gold Mirrors
Gilding glass is not difficult, but it is not fast. Our Angel Gilding video takes you through the process step-by-step. Please contact us for a free 1" sample of translucent gold and a 1" sample of Angel Gilding. The name "Angel Gilding" is used to distinguish chemical deposition gilding (mirroring) from gold leaf gilding.
Angel Gilding allows you to
- Gild the inside of glass sculptures and globes
- Create a seamless gold mirror on textured glass - see Angel Gilding vs Gold Leaf
- Add a golden sheen to galena and copper mirrors - see About Metal Layers
Angel Gilding requires you to
- Pre-activate the gold chemicals before using them
- Spend 20 minutes rocking the gold chemicals as they deposit
- Protect the fragile gold layer with silver or lacquer or paint
Angel Gilding cannot be used for
- Spray applications
- Adding gold on top of a silver layer
- Front surface gilding on a opaque surface or spray chrome applications.
- To deposit gold on an opaque surface see Electroplating and Powder Coating
- Gilding glassware. To gild food related items you need to use Dogwood Ceramics Duncan Gold Overglaze
This is the view inside of a glass jar that was gold mirrored. There is no protective coating or silver-just your eye and pure gold!
To get started with Angel Gilding you will need one of these kits:
As well as this add-on kit:
The only finished mirror we sell is our Thin Gold Mirror. This 9 inch by 15 inch piece of 1/6th inch glass is intended to be used in stained glass windows. Two pieces sit back to back in a single came.
This is made to order and therefore has longer lead times that most of our other products.
Contact Us with any questions.
