Silver-gilt or gilded/gilt silver, sometimes known in American English by the French term vermeil, is silver (either pure or sterling) which has been gilded with gold. Most large objects made in goldsmithing that appear to be gold are actually silver-gilt; for example most sporting trophies (including medals such as the gold medals awarded in all Olympic Games after 1912)[1] and many crown jewels are silver-gilt objects.
The Burghley Nef, silver-gilt (with sections ungilded), and nautilus shell, 1527–1528, France, V&A Museum
Apart from the raw materials being much less expensive to acquire than solid gold of any karat, large silver-gilt objects are also noticeably lighter if lifted, as well as more durable (gold is much heavier than even lead and is easily scratched and bent). For objects that have intricate detail like monstrances, gilding greatly reduces the need for cleaning and polishing, and so reduces the risk of damage. Ungilded silver would suffer oxidation and need frequent polishing; gold does not oxidize at all. The "gold" threads used in embroidered goldwork are normally also silver-gilt.
Silver gilt toilet service by Johann Jacob Kirstein, 1786
Silver-gilt objects have been made since ancient times across Eurasia, using a variety of gilding techniques, and a distinctive depletion gilding technique was developed by the Incas in Pre-Columbian South America. "Overlaying" or folding or hammering on gold foil or gold leaf is mentioned in Homer's Odyssey (Bk vi, 232),[2] and fire-gilding with mercury dates to at least the 4th century BC, and was the most common method until the Early Modern period at least, though dangerous for the workers[3] and often caused blindness among French artisans who refined the technique in the 18th century.[citation needed] Today electroplating is the most commonly used method: it involves no mercury and is therefore much safer. Keum-boo is a special Korean technique of silver-gilding, using depletion gilding. In China gilt-bronze, also known as ormolu, was more common.
Vermeil (/ˈvɜːrmɪl/ or /vərˈmeɪ/; French:[vɛʁˈmɛj]) is an alternative for the usual term silver-gilt. It is a French word which came into use in the English language, mostly in America, in the 19th century, and is rare in British English.[4][5][6] "Vermeil" can also refer to gilt bronze, an even less costly alternative construction material than silver.[7]
The US Code of Federal Regulations 16, Part 23.5 defines vermeil thus: "An industry product may be described or marked as 'vermeil' if it consists of a base of sterling silver coated or plated on all significant surfaces with gold or gold alloy of not less than 10-karat fineness, that is of substantial thickness and a minimum thickness throughout equivalent to two and one half (2+1⁄2) microns (or approximately 1⁄10000 of an inch) of fine gold."[8][9]
Silver objects could be gilded at any point, not just when first made, and items regularly handled, such as toilet service sets for dressing-tables or tableware, often needed regilding after a few years, as the gold began to wear off. In 18th century London two different silversmiths charged 3 shillings per ounce of silver for an initial gilding, and 1 shilling and 9 pence per ounce for regilding.[10] Often only the interior of cups was gilded, perhaps from concern at the chemical compounds used to clean tarnish from silver. This is called parcel-gilt.
Fully silver-gilt items are visually indistinguishable from gold, and were no doubt often thought to be solid gold. When the English Commonwealth sold the Crown Jewels of England after the execution of Charles I they were disappointed in the medieval "Queen Edith's Crowne, formerly thought to be of massy gold, but upon trial found to be of silver gilt", which was valued at only £16, compared to £1,110 for the "imperial crowne".[11] The English Gothic Revival architect Sir George Gilbert Scott was concerned by the morality of this. Gilding of the interior only he accepted, but with all-over gilding "we ... reach the actual boundary of truth and falsehood; and I am convinced that if we adopt this custom we overstep it.... why make our gift look more costly than it is? We increase its beauty, but it is at the sacrifice of truth."[12] Indeed, some Early Medieval silver-gilt Celtic brooches had compartments apparently for small lead weights to aid such deception.[13]
^German Olympic museum website 2009-05-14 at the Wayback Machine and Beijing 2008 Appendix 8 2009-06-12 at the Wayback Machine
^"And as when a man overlays silver with gold, a cunning workman whom Hephaestus and Pallas Athena have taught all manner of craft, and full of grace is the work he produces, even so the goddess shed grace upon his head and shoulders" from this translation
^Compare for example the online collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, which describes over 800 objects as "silver-gilt" against a handful of pieces of jewellery incorporating "vermeil" Accessed July 30, 2009
Inventory of the goods, jewels, etc., sold by order of the Council of State from the several places and palaces following:--The Tower Jewel-Houses, Somerset House, Whitehall, Greenwich, Wimbledon, Oatlands, Windsor, Hampton Court, Richmond, Sion House, St. James's, and several other places; with the several contracts made by the contractors for sale of the said goods, etc., from the year 1646 to the year 1652. British Library, Harleian Ms. Article
silver, gilt, gilded, gilt, silver, sometimes, known, american, english, french, term, vermeil, silver, either, pure, sterling, which, been, gilded, with, gold, most, large, objects, made, goldsmithing, that, appear, gold, actually, silver, gilt, example, most. Silver gilt or gilded gilt silver sometimes known in American English by the French term vermeil is silver either pure or sterling which has been gilded with gold Most large objects made in goldsmithing that appear to be gold are actually silver gilt for example most sporting trophies including medals such as the gold medals awarded in all Olympic Games after 1912 1 and many crown jewels are silver gilt objects The Burghley Nef silver gilt with sections ungilded and nautilus shell 1527 1528 France V amp A Museum Vermeil redirects here For other uses see Vermeil disambiguation Apart from the raw materials being much less expensive to acquire than solid gold of any karat large silver gilt objects are also noticeably lighter if lifted as well as more durable gold is much heavier than even lead and is easily scratched and bent For objects that have intricate detail like monstrances gilding greatly reduces the need for cleaning and polishing and so reduces the risk of damage Ungilded silver would suffer oxidation and need frequent polishing gold does not oxidize at all The gold threads used in embroidered goldwork are normally also silver gilt Contents 1 Techniques 2 Vermeil 3 Considerations in use 4 See also 5 Citations 6 General and cited referencesTechniques Edit nbsp Silver gilt toilet service by Johann Jacob Kirstein 1786Silver gilt objects have been made since ancient times across Eurasia using a variety of gilding techniques and a distinctive depletion gilding technique was developed by the Incas in Pre Columbian South America Overlaying or folding or hammering on gold foil or gold leaf is mentioned in Homer s Odyssey Bk vi 232 2 and fire gilding with mercury dates to at least the 4th century BC and was the most common method until the Early Modern period at least though dangerous for the workers 3 and often caused blindness among French artisans who refined the technique in the 18th century citation needed Today electroplating is the most commonly used method it involves no mercury and is therefore much safer Keum boo is a special Korean technique of silver gilding using depletion gilding In China gilt bronze also known as ormolu was more common Vermeil EditFor other uses see Vermeil disambiguation nbsp A vermeil wine cooler manufactured in 1810 by Paul Storr is located in the Vermeil Room of the White House Vermeil ˈ v ɜːr m ɪ l or v er ˈ m eɪ French vɛʁˈmɛj is an alternative for the usual term silver gilt It is a French word which came into use in the English language mostly in America in the 19th century and is rare in British English 4 5 6 Vermeil can also refer to gilt bronze an even less costly alternative construction material than silver 7 The US Code of Federal Regulations 16 Part 23 5 defines vermeil thus An industry product may be described or marked as vermeil if it consists of a base of sterling silver coated or plated on all significant surfaces with gold or gold alloy of not less than 10 karat fineness that is of substantial thickness and a minimum thickness throughout equivalent to two and one half 2 1 2 microns or approximately 1 10000 of an inch of fine gold 8 9 Considerations in use Edit nbsp Sassanid silver gilt shield boss 7th centurySilver objects could be gilded at any point not just when first made and items regularly handled such as toilet service sets for dressing tables or tableware often needed regilding after a few years as the gold began to wear off In 18th century London two different silversmiths charged 3 shillings per ounce of silver for an initial gilding and 1 shilling and 9 pence per ounce for regilding 10 Often only the interior of cups was gilded perhaps from concern at the chemical compounds used to clean tarnish from silver This is called parcel gilt Fully silver gilt items are visually indistinguishable from gold and were no doubt often thought to be solid gold When the English Commonwealth sold the Crown Jewels of England after the execution of Charles I they were disappointed in the medieval Queen Edith s Crowne formerly thought to be of massy gold but upon trial found to be of silver gilt which was valued at only 16 compared to 1 110 for the imperial crowne 11 The English Gothic Revival architect Sir George Gilbert Scott was concerned by the morality of this Gilding of the interior only he accepted but with all over gilding we reach the actual boundary of truth and falsehood and I am convinced that if we adopt this custom we overstep it why make our gift look more costly than it is We increase its beauty but it is at the sacrifice of truth 12 Indeed some Early Medieval silver gilt Celtic brooches had compartments apparently for small lead weights to aid such deception 13 See also EditCategory Silver gilt objects Vermeil Room in which the White House s extensive collection is displayedCitations Edit German Olympic museum website Archived 2009 05 14 at the Wayback Machine and Beijing 2008 Appendix 8 Archived 2009 06 12 at the Wayback Machine And as when a man overlays silver with gold a cunning workman whom Hephaestus and Pallas Athena have taught all manner of craft and full of grace is the work he produces even so the goddess shed grace upon his head and shoulders from this translation Strong 11 Oxford English Dictionary 2nd Edition 1989 16 CFR 23 4 Misuse of the word vermeil Compare for example the online collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston which describes over 800 objects as silver gilt against a handful of pieces of jewellery incorporating vermeil Accessed July 30 2009 Oxford English Dictionary Second edition 1989 US Code of Federal Regulations 16CFR23 5 Revised January 1 2009 What is Gold Vermeil And why is it so great Glanville 187 Inventory Scott 249 British Museum mentioning two examples General and cited references EditInventory of the goods jewels etc sold by order of the Council of State from the several places and palaces following The Tower Jewel Houses Somerset House Whitehall Greenwich Wimbledon Oatlands Windsor Hampton Court Richmond Sion House St James s and several other places with the several contracts made by the contractors for sale of the said goods etc from the year 1646 to the year 1652 British Library Harleian Ms Article Glanville Philippa Silver in England Taylor amp Francis 2006 ISBN 0 415 38215 7 ISBN 978 0 415 38215 1 Koopman Rare Art Gilt edged Splendour Masterpieces in Silver Gilt with photographs by Guy Hills John Adamson 2013 ISBN 1 898565 12 0 ISBN 978 1 898565 12 3 Scott Sir George Gilbert Remarks on secular amp domestic architecture present amp future John Murray 1857 Google books Strong Donald Emrys Greek and Roman Gold and Silver Plate Taylor amp Francis 1979 ISBN 0 416 72510 4 ISBN 978 0 416 72510 0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Silver gilt amp oldid 1158840605, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
