Ormolu

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Ormolu (; from French or moulu 'ground/pounded gold') or gilt-bronze is the gilding technique of applying finely ground, high-carat gold–mercury amalgam to an object of bronze, and objects finished in this way. The mercury is driven off in a kiln, leaving behind a gold coating. Around 1830, legislation in France outlawed the use of mercury for health reasons, though use continued to the 1900s. The French refer to this technique as bronze doré; in English, it is known as "gilt bronze", especially in objects from before the 18th century; for later pieces "ormolu" is often used.

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