Ormolu

Bronze or brass which has been gold leafed and used in decorating certain styles of furniture, clock-cases, chandeliers, and jewelry. Ormolu is cast and chiseled, then finished with gold leaf. The height of its use was as part of Empire style furnishings in the early nineteenth century.(pr. OHR-m&#601;-loo)Examples:Andr?-Charles Boulle (French, 1642-1732), Wardrobe (alternatively known as an Armoire), Paris, around 1700, made of oak and pine, with ebony, tortoiseshell, inlaid (marquetry) with brass and tin veneering, pewter, horn, and gilded bronze (ormolu), 102 x 58 x 25 inches (260 x 148 x 64 cm), Louvre. See Baroque. French (Swiss movement, c. 1800), Mantel Clock, c. 1785, soft-paste porcelain with colored enamel decoration in imitation of jewels, ormolu, rock crystal, and enameled metal, 10 15/16 x 6 x 4 7/16 inches, Birmingham Museum of Art. See horology.Also see fire gilding and gilding.<br><br>Bronze or brass which has been gold leafed and used in decorating certain styles of furniture, clock-cases, chandeliers, and jewelry. Ormolu is cast and chiseled, then finished with gold leaf. The height of its use was as part of Empire style furnishings in the early nineteenth century.(pr. OHR-m&#601;-loo)