A giltwood pelican figure, 'Pelican in her Piety', 18th century, the classic heraldic and ecclesiastical depiction of the vulning pelican feeding her young with blood from her own breast, 35 cm high, 32 cm wide, 24 cm deep.Provenance: Galerie Arnaud Catel, St Ouen, France, Note, 'Pelican in her Piety' is one of the principal Christian symbols used in the decoration of vestments and church textiles. Reputedly originating in the the 2nd century AD, the tale of a mother pelican's devotion and sacrifice later became symbolic of Christ's sacrifice for man
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- Heraldic Decoration - Heraldic decoration on silver, glass, and porcelain refers to the use of coats of arms and other heraldic symbols as decorative motifs on these materials. Coats of arms were traditionally used to identify individuals, families, and institutions, and were often displayed on shields, banners, and other objects.
The heraldic decoration typically takes the form of engraved or etched designs that incorporate coats of arms or other heraldic symbols. Heraldic decoration on silver, glass, and porcelain has a long history, dating back to the medieval period when coats of arms were first used. During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, heraldic decoration on decorative objects became increasingly elaborate and ornate, with finely detailed designs that often incorporated intricate scrollwork, mythological figures, and other decorative motifs.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, heraldic decoration became particularly popular among the aristocracy and upper classes, who used these objects as symbols of their wealth and status.
- Giltwood - Giltwood is used to describe a gold finish on furniture and other decorative wooden items, whereby a thin sheet of gold metal, called gold leaf, is applied to the surface for decorative purposes.
Unlike gilding, where the gold leaf is applied over a coating of gesso, with giltwood the gold leaf is applied direct to the surface, or over a coat of linseed oil gold leaf adhesive.
Most gold-finished mirrors will be gilded, whereas furniture with gold highlights will have the gold applied through the giltwood method.
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