Chasing Gold: The Glamour of 18th-Century Bronze Craft

12 products

12 products
Pair of Regency Pier Console Tables with mahogany tops, gilt bronze mounts, lion feet, and mirrored backs, circa 1810.
Pair of Regency Pier Console Tables with carved mahogany legs, gilt bronze mounts, and inset mirror backs.
Pair of Regency Pier / Console Tables
Collection CK30
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Grand Tour Breche Sanguine & Gilt Bronze Mounted Navicella, rare 19th-century marble Roman galley sculpture with gilded mounts.
Grand Tour Breche Sanguine & Gilt Bronze Mounted Navicella, 19th century marble sculpture of Roman Galley on ornate plinth.
Grand Tour Breche Sanguine & Gilt Bronze Mounted Navicella
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Pair of 19th-century Siberian amethyst urns with gilt bronze mounts by Collection CK20, Napoleon III style
Pair of 19th-century Siberian amethyst urns with gilt bronze mounts from Collection CK20, elegant Napoleon III design
Pair of Siberian Amethyst Urns
Collection CK20
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19th Century North Indian Mughal Kutch Repoussé Silver Mirror with intricate solid silver repoussé scroll and acanthus leaf frame.
19th Century North Indian Mughal Kutch Repoussé Silver Mirror with intricate floral repoussé design and acanthus leaf corner mounts
19th Century North Indian Mughal Repoussé Silver Mirror
Collection EE30
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Regency Rosewood Drum Table with scalloped leather top, three drawers with brass star handles, and paw feet.
Regency Rosewood Drum Table close-up of brass lion mask drawer handle on rich rosewood woodwork.
Regency Rosewood Drum Table
Collection CK30
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Bronze Empire Column Lamps pair with finely chased gilt bronze details, 19th century French design, 63 cm height.
Bronze Empire Column Lamps featuring finely chased gilt bronze details, 19th century, wired for electricity, 63 cm height.
Bronze Empire Column Lamps
Collection CK40
George III turned Blue John urn with gilt bronze finial on marble base by Collection CK20
Close-up of a George III Blue John urn showing rich purple bands and texture from Collection CK20
George III Turned Blue John Urn
Collection CK20
Pair Of Neo Egyptian Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks with female caryatid figures and lion mask nozzles, circa 1820.
Pair Of Neo Egyptian Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks with caryatid figures and lion mask handles, circa 1820, France.
Pair Of Neo Egyptian Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Collection CK40
Intricately carved 17th century Mughal cut-steel chape with foliate design, offered by Nicholas Wells Antiques.
Intricately carved 17th century Mughal cut-steel sword chape with floral design by Nicholas Wells Antiques
A fine carved cut-steel chape, Mughal India, 17th century
Nicholas Wells Antiques
Rare 19th century Sèvres porcelain and ormolu mantel clock with floral panels by Nicholas Wells Antiques
Rare 19th century Sèvres Porcelain and ormolu mantel clock with floral panels by Nicholas Wells Antiques
Sèvres Porcelain Blue Celeste Ormolu Mounted Mantel Clock
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Pair of 19th-century gilt bronze enamel drageoirs by F. Barbedienne, offered by Nicholas Wells Antiques.
Enamel Drageoirs by F. Barbedienne | Pair
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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Mother of pearl inlaid ebonised cabinet with gilt bronze mounts and marble top by Nicholas Wells Antiques
Mother of pearl inlaid ebonised cabinet with gilt bronze mounts and Carrara marble top by Nicholas Wells Antiques
Mother of pearl inlaid ebonised cabinet
Nicholas Wells Antiques
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In the 18th century, chasing gilt bronze represented one of the highest expressions of decorative artistry in European craftsmanship. After casting, skilled ciseleurs meticulously refined every surface using specialised tools to sharpen details, articulate textures, and bring life to scrolling foliage, masks, figures, and rococo or neoclassical ornament. The chased bronze was then gilded—most commonly by mercury gilding—to achieve the deep, luminous gold finish so prized in French and English furniture, clocks, lighting, and mounted objects of the period. This demanding, labour-intensive process produced works of exceptional richness and clarity, and the finest examples—particularly those associated with Parisian bronziers such as Caffieri, Gouthière, and the ateliers supporting ebenistes like Riesener—are celebrated today for their incomparable refinement and technical brilliance.
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