Gilded Glass Ornament Workshop with Master Gilder Lynne Rutter

Join us for a small group, hands-on workshop to learn the ancient art of verre églomisé with Odd Salon Fellow Lynne Rutter

In this class we’ll delve into some gilding history, while learning how to mirror glass  the historic way, with finely beaten sheets of gold.

The practice of gilding dates back to at least 3000 BC, and can be found in tomb decorations, ornamentation, furniture and frames, and in works of religious and fine art.  Gilded glass goes back to 1st century BC  and maybe even further. Not much survives, as these pieces were delicate. 

What we now call “verre églomisé" is a set of techniques that were only rarely used until the 18th century when a decorator and framer named  Jean Baptiste Glomy became famous for gilded glass frames and mirrors. People began to say the glass has been “Glomy-fied” or églomisé.

Glass gilding and back-painting glass was generally limited to clock cases and small items, until the mid-19th century when signwriters started making elaborate gilded glass signs to catch the light and attention for shops.

Today, the practice of gilding still follows historical practices, handed down through generations of artisans.

Ticket price includes supplies for the workshop, and everyone will go home with a fine art ornament of their own making.

Create gilded Harvey ornament, or select an idea from designs we will have on hand.

Lynne Rutter is a Fellow of Odd Salon, and is a fine art muralist and decorative painter based in San Francisco, whose work emphasizes site-specific design and authentic materials and techniques. She has been an active part of the design community for over 35 years and has completed hundreds of installations nationally and internationally. Gilding has played an important role in Lynne’s work whether in restoration, ornamentation, or her large-scale paintings.

You can see more of Lynne’s work on her blog The Ornamentalist where she writes about the finer points of color and décor, and her adventures while traveling with her camera.

Host or Publisher Odd Salon