The path through years of artistry and time-honoured high-end craftsmanship continues, with Secrets From Portugal letting you in on all the secrets that make our furniture designs truly iconic and unique. Gold has always been a strong part of our DNA, and our artisans have become masters in manipulating this treasured material. Much like Filigree, Leaf Gilding is an intricate part of our essence.
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Gilding, and Leaf Gilding specifically, is one of the most luxurious ancient crafting techniques. It is a decorative technique in which master artisans apply a very thin coating of metal, usually gold, to solid surfaces such as metal, wood, porcelain, or stone.
Inspired by the Ancient Egyptians, the Gold Folding Screen is the representation of a flawlessly leaf gilding process. In those ancient times gold and silver leafing symbolized wealth and prosperity, it was a status symbol that motivated luxury furniture makers to adopt the concept of leaf gilding. We transformed this cultural heritage into a highly desirable product, similar to jewellery for the home.
Gold Leaves are created from gold that is hammered into thin sheets by gold beating, then they will be used for leaf gilding. The most commonly used gold is 22 karats yellow gold, while pure gold is 24. Even though the gold leaf is a metal leaf, usually the term metal leaf is used while referring to other metals.
Leaf Gilding is available in a wide variety of karats and shades and different techniques can be chosen. Boca do Lobo have always paid tribute to this ancient technique and different leaves can be unveiled in several of our luxury furniture pieces.
Leaf Gilding in specific is a time-consuming technique, the traditional water gilding is the most difficult way but it remains unchanged for hundreds of years, and it is still done by hand in our studio.
The Diamond Blue Sideboard features three highly sculptured doors leading to a gold leaf interior with shelving and two drawers. The exterior of this fanciful piece is presented in silver leaf finished with a luxurious shade of translucent classic blue with high gloss varnish.
Although being highly associated with gold leaves, leaf gilding isn’t limited to just gold finishes. Many other finishes are available, most specifically in a variety of colours, this allows our creations to play with the line between honouring of ancestry and still allow our pieces to have a contemporary design.
Pieces like the fanciful and legendary Pixel pays tribute to this fine art, it features 1088 triangles in gold, copper and silver leaves. It also unveils an exquisite technique of silver leaf finished with a luxurious shade of translucent different colours with high gloss varnish on top. A playful way to give a contemporary touch and to carry the dedication of those who built it.
