How do you clean dirty ormolu?

Dust it with a soft dry brush. Never use liquid metal polishes or abrasive cloths. The chemicals will strip the thin gold layer right down to the base bronze. If the dirt is heavy, a cotton swab lightly dampened with warm water and a neutral soap can lift surface grime. Dry it immediately with a soft towel.

I inherited a French mantel clock with gold figures on it, but some parts are quite dull while others are very shiny. Is this normal?

That contrast is intentional. Eighteenth and nineteenth-century makers used a technique where some areas were left matte and others were highly burnished with an agate stone. This play of light helped give the figures depth and movement. It is a sign of good quality casting and chasing.

Can missing mounts be replaced?

Finding an exact match from the period is difficult. Ormolu mounts were often cast for specific pieces of furniture or clock cases, making their dimensions and curves unique. A good restorer can take a silicon mould of a surviving mount and cast a replacement in brass or bronze. They then electroplate it to match the colour of the original mercury gilding.

I was looking at a commode in a local shop that has heavy gilded handles, but I am worried about the mercury used in the old process. Are they safe to touch?

They are safe to handle. The danger of mercury gilding was solely to the craftsmen who made them. When they heated the gold amalgam over a fire, the mercury vaporised and was inhaled by the workers in the foundry. By the time the piece was finished, the mercury had evaporated. Only the gold remained fused to the bronze surface. You are just touching gold and bronze.

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Antique Ormolu

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Antique ormolu consists of finely cast bronze objects and furniture mounts that have been fire-gilded with a mixture of gold and mercury to produce a rich, durable gold finish.