Antique William IV Gilt Bronze Table Lamp, 19th Century

The striking lamp features the original glass receiver, classic William IV design and has been converted from an 1830s palmer oil lamp.

Add some classic style to your home with this lovely lamp.

Condition:
In excellent working condition having been beautifully cleaned and the lamp professionally rewired, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:
Height 72 x width 18 x depth 18

Dimensions in inches:
Height 2 foot, 4 inches x width 7 inches x depth 7 inches

Ormolu / gilt bronze – (from French ‘or moulu’, signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze. The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-colored veneer known as ‘gilt bronze’.

The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.

After circa 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury other techniques were used instead. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt.