Verre Eglomisé

May 27, 2011 6 Comments by Regina

I thought I would follow up the post on inspired antique mirror images with the beautiful art of Verre Eglomisé. Verre Eglomisé is a French term which means “glass gilded” and refers to the technique of gilding on glass to create veritable works of art with mirror-like surfaces. My brother, Jason, recently took a class with a Master in the field, Miriam Ellner, during the latest conference of the Society of Gilders.

Verre Eglomisé Ceiling

Speaking of Miriam Ellner, she recently created the above masterpiece at the behest of famed designer, Celerie Kemble. To read more about the work and see in-depth pictures, please do click on the lovely post by Ann Onusko of the PlumSiena blog. Another of my fave blogs frequently features Verre Eglomisé — it’s written by Christine McInnes of London Gilding.

Here are a few more images in various styles and uses…

Interior Design by Kelly Wearstler

Verre Eglomisé panels in a casual restaurant featured in Interior Design magazine.

A Chinese cabinet with Verre Eglomisé doors as featured in Architectural Digest. The (too bright?) wallpaper is by Florence Broadhurst, a designer with a fascinating history.

This is the 1935 gold, silver and palladium leaf Verre Eglomisé mural entitled “The Navigation of History”. At a little over 20′ high, it was created by artist Jean Dupas for the ill-fated ocean liner, Normandie. It currently resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and they have even better pics and its history. Incredible.

I also found another wonderful artist, California’s Maria Apelo Cruz. Please do see her site — such beautiful works. A short video below gives you even more inspired images of her Verre Eglomisé artistry.

Hope you enjoyed today’s works — isn’t the art sublime? We will not be here on Monday but we do wish you all a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

6 Comments

Ann @ Plumsiena
356 days ago

I’ve been a fan of Maria’s for a long time. She has a beautiful hand.

I wonder who did that cool wall of Kelly Wearstler’s? Not many do it in the U.S. The patience and skill it must take…!
Theresa Cheek
356 days ago

So glad to see a lost art being featured! I am thankful a few continue to carry on the tradition of vere eglomise’. These pictures are so rich.
Regina
356 days ago

Thanks, Ladies! Ann – I believe that may be Ms. Cruz’s work as well. I recognized one of her artworks in another KW book so it’s just an assumption. The work is gorgeous!
Annabel Armstrong
355 days ago

Thank you for sharing this beautiful work. I am a verre églomisé artist and have been familiar with Miriam Ellner’s work for years (love love it!), but this is the first time I’ve seen Ms. Cruz’s work. Beautiful. And I’m glad to know that it is clearly no longer a dying art.
sean hennessey
355 days ago

ack! your blog make me feel like such an ignorant slacker! so many things to learn! so many things to make!
; )
ColleenwithMurals&More
354 days ago

Goodness, Regina! When I see such awe-inspiring work like this, I go back to calling myself a ‘painter’. I can’t begin to imagine painting such beauty!

Thank goodness for diversity on God’s earth! Allows simple folk like me to still do what they love.