What is Verre Églomisé?
Verre églomisé is glass gilded on the reverse with real metal leaf, so the gold, silver or copper is seen through the glass.
The name is French for “églomisé glass”. We hand-gild verre églomisé panels, splashbacks and mirrors in our North Devon workshop.
The technique
How verre églomisé is made
Thin sheets of metal leaf are laid onto the back of the glass, one leaf at a time, and the finished gilding is sealed with a protective backing. Because the leaf is behind the glass, the surface you see and touch is smooth glass, while the metal keeps its depth and lustre.
There are two main methods, and they give very different results:
- Water gilding uses a gelatine size that lets the leaf lie perfectly flat against the glass. The result is bright and reflective, close to a soft mirror, with faint lines where the leaves overlap.
- Oil gilding uses an oil-based size. The leaf has a softer, matt sheen and doesn’t give a mirrored reflection, with the square grid of leaves clearly visible.
The gilding can be left solid, or rubbed through and backed with a coloured paint to give a weathered, aged look. Designs can also be picked out in leaf against a contrasting background.
History
Where the name comes from
Gilding the back of glass is an ancient craft. Roman and early Christian “gold glass” sealed gold leaf designs between layers of glass, and reverse-gilded glass was used in religious panels throughout the medieval period.
The name verre églomisé comes from Jean-Baptiste Glomy, an 18th-century Parisian framer and art dealer who popularised gilded and painted glass borders for framing prints. His name stuck to the technique, and it became a hallmark of French decorative interiors, later reaching a high point in Art Deco bars, ocean liners and hotels.
Verre églomisé or antique mirror?
What’s the difference?
| Verre églomisé | Antiqued mirror | |
|---|---|---|
| Made with | Sheets of real gold, silver or copper leaf, laid by hand | A silver solution poured onto the glass, then distressed |
| Look | Visible leaf lines in a grid, a soft lustre, from reflective to matt | A continuous mirror, foxed or distressed to look aged |
| Colour | Silver, 22ct gold, copper, or coloured backing paints | Silver, warmed with tinted glass or coloured backing paint |
| Best for | Statement walls, bar fronts, doors, ceilings, decorative panels | Splashbacks, feature walls, mirrors, panelling |
| Typical lead time | 6–12 weeks | 4–5 weeks |
Our finishes
Verre églomisé at Rough Old Glass
- Silver Leaf on Clear: water-gilded real silver leaf in a grid of roughly 90mm squares. A delicate, reflective finish with faint leaf lines.
- Silver Leaf Weathered: silver leaf rubbed through and backed in grey, bronze, copper or gold, for an aged look that is still reflective.
- 22ct Gold Leaf on Clear: real gold leaf, reverse-gilded for a rich, warm finish.
- Morwellham: oil-gilt copper leaf in 150mm squares. Matt and non-reflective, with visible leaf lines.
- Geevor: oil-gilt silver metal leaf, slightly distressed and non-reflective, which can warm in tone over time.
- Trailing Leaf: a reflective water-gilded silver leaf design against a matt Geevor background. We can create your own designs the same way.
Most of these can also be gilded onto bronze or grey tinted glass, or onto fluted and ribbed textured glass. Panels are made to your sizes, and toughening is available on request.
See all verre églomisé finishes →Our Dorchester Hotel doors →Living with it
Caring for verre églomisé
Clean the glass face with warm water on a soft, lint-free cloth and dry it straight away. Keep liquid away from the edges, and avoid ammonia, vinegar and abrasive cleaners. The leaf itself is protected behind the glass and sealed backing.
Considering verre églomisé?
See it in your own light
Leaf finishes change with the light around them, so we always recommend ordering samples first.
Order samples →Discuss a project →