Gilded Glass
Gilded glass is especially effective in applications due to the unique way glass interacts with light. The inherent transparency and luminosity of glass allow gold to shine—literally and figuratively. When applied to or encased within glass, gold reflects light in a way that enhances its warmth, depth, and brilliance, creating a sense of richness and sophistication that few other materials can match.
Gold, being chemically inert and highly malleable, can be applied in ultra-thin sheets without reacting with the glass. This ensures long-term stability, resistance to tarnishing, and minimal degradation under UV exposure.
We have used gold treatments on numerous jobs to enhance their overall quality and appearance, and gilding can be used in conjunction with other techniques including mirroring, etching, slumping and screenprinting.
Alternatively, gold coloured ceramic frit can be screenprinted and fired onto glass to create a similar effect on a large scale where the cost of gold leaf can be prohibitive.
One notable example of large-scale gold façade work is the “Fields of Gold” installation at Sensor City in Liverpool, designed by Julian Stocks. This design incorporates more than 700 square metres of printed glass, as shown below.
