Ever picked up a jewellery casket or vanity tray that seems to glow like old gold? There's a good chance someone called it "ormolu." The word sounds fancy because it is, but it also gets used for a lot of pieces that aren't quite the real thing. Here's how to tell the difference.
Our gold filigree heart casket stands on three cherub feet, with a beveled glass lid and red velvet lining. Made in Japan, $42.
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What does ormolu mean?
Ormolu comes from the French or moulu, meaning "ground gold." True ormolu is bronze that has been finely cast, chased by hand, and then fire-gilded. Gold was mixed with mercury into a paste, brushed onto the bronze, and heated until the mercury burned away, leaving a thin layer of gold bonded to the metal. It was used on 18th- and early 19th-century French furniture mounts, clocks, candelabra and chandeliers.
Why the real thing is rare
The mercury fumes were deadly to the gilders, and many craftsmen didn't live long. Once safer electroplating arrived in the mid-1800s, fire-gilding faded away. That means true antique ormolu is old, scarce and usually expensive.
Mid-century "ormolu"
In the 1950s and 1960s, "ormolu" became a popular name for gold-plated cast metal decor in the Hollywood Regency style. Think filigree jewellery caskets with glass sides, footed vanity trays, mirrored dresser boxes, perfume holders and lamp bases. These pieces are usually gold-plated brass or a softer zinc alloy called spelter. Many were made in Japan and still carry a little "Made in Japan" foil label on the felt base. They aren't fire-gilded, but they're loved collectibles in their own right and make a dressing table look like a movie set.
Clues to what you have
- Weight: cast bronze is heavy; spelter is lighter and feels hollow.
- Underneath: where the gold has worn, bronze looks warm brown-red, brass looks yellow, and spelter looks grey.
- Detail: antique ormolu shows crisp, hand-chased detail and a soft, rich gold with both matte and burnished areas. Later pieces have softer, cast-in detail and a brighter, even shine.
- Construction: antique mounts were often held on with screws and nuts; mid-century pieces may have labels, glued felt bottoms or maker's marks.
Caring for ormolu
Never use metal polish or brass cleaner, since it can rub the gold right off. Dust gently with a soft brush. If it needs more, use a barely damp cloth with a drop of mild soap, then dry it right away. For valuable antiques, leave deeper cleaning to a conservator.
Styling ideas
A mid-century ormolu casket makes a glamorous home for rings and brooches. A footed vanity tray instantly dresses up perfume bottles. Mix a few gold-toned pieces with mirrors and crystal for that classic Hollywood Regency look.
Ormolu-style pieces in the shop
- Vintage gold filigree heart jewelry casket with three cherub feet, three rose rosettes, a beveled glass lid and red velvet lining. Made in Japan.
Did your mother or grandmother have an ormolu jewellery box on her dresser? What did she keep inside it? Tell us in the comments.