gilding / marbling / faux bois examples
what is a gilding / marbling / faux bois?
gilding
Gilding: For centuries, artists and artisans have turned to gold leaf as a way to make their creations shimmer and shine. Evident in everything from ancient artifacts to modern masterpieces, the glistening gold accents can add an ethereal touch to any work of art.
Today, many contemporary creatives continue to use gold leaf in their work. In addition to offering a less expensive and more versatile alternative to solid gold, gold leaf is celebrated for its ability to accentuate color and form through luminous details.
Ansell Decorative Arts uses various metal leaf, from silver to copper to gold to create stunning effects and exquisite sophisticated surfaces.
marbleizing or faux marbling
Marbleizing or faux marbling is the preparation and finishing of a surface to imitate the appearance of polished marble. It is typically used in buildings where the cost or weight of genuine marble would be prohibitive. Faux marbling is a special case of faux painting used to create the distinctive and varied patterns of marble – the most imitated stone by far.
faux bois
Faux bois (from the French for false wood) refers to the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains in various media. The craft has roots in the Renaissance with trompe-l’œil. It was probably first crafted with concrete using an iron armature by garden craftsmen in France called “rocailleurs” using common iron materials: rods, barrel bands, and chicken wire.
Early examples of the craft survive at Parc des Buttes-Chaumont opened for an exposition in Paris in 1867. In 1873, the inventor of ferrocement, Joseph Monier expanded his patents to include bridges. He designed the first bridge of reinforced concrete, crossing the moat at the Chateau Chazelet, in France. It was sculpted to resemble timbers and logs.
Ferrocement faux bois uses a combination of concrete, mortar and grout applied to a steel frame or armature to sculpt lifelike representations of wooden objects. Final sculpting can be done while the mixture is wet, in a putty state, or slightly stiff. Techniques vary among artisans. Most popular in the late 19th century through the 1940s, ferrocement faux bois has largely disappeared with the passing of those most expert in its practice. What few objects remain from that peak period (mostly in the form of garden art, such as planters and birdbaths) are now highly prized by collectors.
In Mexico and Texas, this style is sometimes known as “el trabajo rústico” (the rustic work). It is often characterized by a more realistic look in both composition and coloring, as well as a more finely detailed finish than comparable European work.