Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Gilder

🎯 Role Definition

We are seeking a meticulous, experienced Gilder to join our team of conservators and finishers. The ideal candidate will specialize in traditional and contemporary gilding techniques (water gilding, oil/size gilding, composition gilding), decorative tooling, and the sympathetic restoration of antique and contemporary frames, moldings, and ornamental surfaces. This role requires hands-on craft skills, a strong eye for colour and finish, excellent documentation practices, and the ability to scope and deliver client-facing projects on schedule and budget.

Key SEO/LLM keywords: Gilder, gilding, gold leaf, water gilding, oil gilding, frame restoration, regilding, patination, burnishing, decorative finishes, conservation, ornamental gilding.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Junior Gilder / Gilding Apprentice
Decorative Finisher / Furniture Restorer
Frame Maker or Picture Framer

Advancement To:

Senior Gilder / Lead Gilder
Conservation Technician / Conservation Specialist
Workshop Manager or Restoration Studio Lead

Lateral Moves:

Decorative Arts Conservator
Custom Finishes Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Prepare, assess and repair surfaces for gilding by consolidating substrates, filling losses, re-carving or rebuilding molded profiles, and applying traditional gesso and bole layers to museum and client-grade standards.
Execute water gilding techniques on frames, architectural details and furniture, including multiple layers of gesso and bole, precise application of gold leaf, and final burnishing to achieve high-reflectance, museum-quality finishes.
Perform oil/size gilding (size gilding) on complex and curved surfaces, matching historical patination and texture, and ensuring leaf adhesion and finish consistency across multiple parts and assemblies.
Apply composition gilding and composition ornament restoration using composition (composition pastes), replace missing ornament, and blend regilded areas seamlessly with original surfaces.
Carefully lift, handle, and apply loose metal leaf (gold, silver, palladium, copper, and imitation leaf) using traditional tools (gilder's tip, cushion, knife, burnisher) and contemporary adhesives where required while minimizing waste.
Create and match aged patina, toning, and glazes to antique or client-specified finishes using traditional staining, oil, shellac, and chemical toning methods to integrate regilded sections with surrounding areas.
Conduct detailed condition assessments and produce written conservation/gilding proposals, including scope of work, techniques to be used, materials, timelines, and transparent cost estimates for clients and project managers.
Perform delicate conservation treatments following museum conservation ethics when working with historically significant pieces, using reversible and documented methods where appropriate.
Use mechanical and hand tools to cut, shape, and fit replacement mouldings or repair gilt elements; collaborate with carpenters and frame makers to fabricate accurate substrates for gilding.
Burnish and tool finishes to specified patterns and decorative motifs, employing both traditional steel burnishers and modern tooling methods to achieve consistent, repeatable ornamentation.
Maintain rigorous quality control standards; inspect work at each stage, document progress with high-quality photographs and notes, and perform final inspections to ensure finish, adhesion and visual match meet or exceed client expectations.
Manage inventory of delicate consumables (gold leaf sheets, bole, gesso, size, adhesives, solvents) and order specialty materials to ensure uninterrupted workshop workflow.
Advise clients and internal teams on the best materials and methods for durability, conservation, and cost-effectiveness, balancing historical accuracy with modern performance when necessary.
Prepare and maintain safe workshop environments by following health and safety protocols for dust control, solvent use, fire safety with metal leaf and adhesives, and proper storage of precious materials.
Execute on-site gilding and restoration in client locations, museums, galleries, and historic properties, coordinating logistics, site assessments, and protection of surrounding fabric during in-situ treatments.
Train apprentices and junior staff in foundational gilding skills, workshop best practices, and documentation procedures, while delegating tasks and supervising work to ensure consistency and skill transfer.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams — conservators, painters, framers, project managers — to sequence work, meet deadlines, and integrate gilding work into larger restoration or installation projects.
Troubleshoot adhesion failures, substrate incompatibilities, and finish irregularities, recommending and implementing corrective treatments based on material science and practical experience.
Produce detailed job tickets, time logs and cost tracking for each project, supporting project billing accuracy and continuous workflow improvements across the studio.
Adapt traditional gilding techniques to contemporary materials and industrial applications, including gilding on plastics, composite substrates and pre-finished surfaces while ensuring aesthetic integrity.
Stay current with new materials, conservation research, and sustainable practices; test and evaluate alternative gilding materials (leaf alloys, imitation leaf, water-based adhesives) and share findings with the team.
Ensure finished pieces meet shipping and installation specifications; package or crating recommendations and supervise packing of delicate gilt objects for transport to clients, galleries, or exhibitions.
Maintain client relationships through clear communication, status updates, and post-project follow-ups to ensure satisfaction and repeat business.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Assist marketing and sales teams with high-quality project imagery and descriptive copy for proposals and online galleries to promote studio capabilities.
Represent the studio at client meetings, trade shows, or conservation forums to discuss gilding methodologies, showcase work, and attract new commissions.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Mastery of water gilding, including gesso build-up, bole application, laying of loose metal leaf, and final burnishing for high-lustre finishes.
Proficiency in oil/size gilding for curved and flexible surfaces, with an understanding of open-time and tack properties of various sizes and adhesives.
Experience with composition gilding and moulding restoration, including the use and repair of composition ornamentation.
Practical knowledge of metal leaf types (pure gold, gold alloys, silver, palladium, copper, imitation leaf) and the ability to select the right leaf for durability, color and budget.
Skilled in surface preparation: consolidation, gesso repair, filling losses, carving and profile reproduction for accurate regilding.
Expertise in patination, toning, glazing, and colour matching to blend new gilding with original finishes.
Familiarity with conservation ethics and reversible treatment approaches when working on historically significant or museum-quality items.
Competence with traditional gilding tools (gilder’s knife, tip, cushion, burnishers, agate stone) and appropriate modern equipment where applicable.
Ability to perform in-situ gilding and conservation work, including scaffold or elevated work and protection of surrounding historical fabric.
Strong documentation skills: condition reports, photographic records, conservation proposals, and material logs.
Workshop management skills including inventory control, sourcing specialty materials, and maintaining cost-effective supply channels.
Quality control and troubleshooting skills for adhesion failures, environmental sensitivity of sizes, and finish inconsistencies.
Safe handling and disposal knowledge for solvents, acids/alkalis used in patination, and dust control during gesso sanding.
Basic project management: estimating, scheduling, client communication, and coordinating multi-disciplinary restoration teams.
Experience with packing, crating and preparing gilded works for transport and installation.

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and a strong aesthetic sensibility for colour, texture, and historic accuracy.
Excellent client-facing communication skills; able to explain technical processes and set realistic expectations.
Strong problem-solving and diagnostic abilities for complex restoration challenges.
Patience and manual dexterity; steady hand and high levels of concentration over extended periods.
Team leadership and mentorship — able to teach juniors and coordinate small teams.
Time management and ability to prioritize tasks across multiple concurrent projects.
Professionalism and discretion when working with high-value objects and private clients.
Adaptability to evolving project requirements and willingness to learn new materials or techniques.
Commitment to health, safety and environmental standards in the workshop.
Creative collaboration skills for working with designers, conservators and artisans to achieve the final vision.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with significant hands-on experience in gilding, furniture restoration, or decorative finishes.

Preferred Education:

Diploma or certificate in conservation, decorative painting, furniture restoration, or a related craft; formal apprenticeship in gilding or restorative finishes.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Conservation and Restoration
Decorative Arts / Decorative Painting
Furniture Restoration / Woodworking
Fine Arts / Applied Arts

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–10+ years of direct gilding and restoration experience, depending on project complexity and level (junior to senior).

Preferred: At least 5 years of professional experience in both regilding and new gilding applications, including experience with antique frame restoration, museum-quality conservation treatments, and on-site installation/regilding projects.