ormolu
Sign in to savethumb|French ormolu mantel clock (around 1800) by Julien Béliard (1758 – died after 1806), Paris. The clock case by Claude Galle (1758–1815) Ormolu (; ) is the gilding technique of applying finely ground, high-carat gold–mercury amalgam to an object of bronze, and objects finished in this way. The mercury is driven off in a kiln, leaving behind a gold coating. The French refer to this technique as ; in English, it is known as gilt bronze. Around 1830, legislation in France outlawed the use of mercury for health reasons, though use continued to the 1900s.
Article
8 sectionsContents
- Process
- Health risk
- Alternatives
- Applications
- Gallery
- See also
- References and sources
- External links
thumb|French ormolu mantel clock (around 1800) by Julien Béliard (1758 – died after 1806), Paris. The clock case by Claude Galle (1758–1815) Ormolu (; ) is the gilding technique of applying finely ground, high-carat gold–mercury amalgam to an object of bronze, and objects finished in this way. The mercury is driven off in a kiln, leaving behind a gold coating. The French refer to this technique as ; in English, it is known as gilt bronze. Around 1830, legislation in France outlawed the use of mercury for health reasons, though use continued to the 1900s.
==Process== The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which 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.