fire gilding

American  

noun

1. a process of gilding metalwork in which the metal base is coated with an amalgam of gold and mercury, the latter subsequently being driven off by heat.

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Etymology

Origin of fire gilding

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fire gilding

Mr. McLemore practiced the ancient method of fire gilding, in which mercury and gold are heated to an extreme temperature, causing the gold to transfer onto an object — in his case, mostly antique clocks.

From New York Times ● Aug. 11, 2017

Electroplating — using an electric current to adhere the gold to the object — appeared in the 19th century, largely replacing fire gilding, whose mercury fumes are highly toxic.

From New York Times ● Dec. 22, 2016