How do I clean gilded wood?

Dust surfaces gently using a soft, dry brush without applying moisture or chemical cleaning agents. Liquid cleaners can damage delicate gesso layers and strip historical gold leaf. Keep pieces away from direct sunlight and dramatic humidity shifts to prevent the underlying timber from splitting or warping.

Are these pieces religious?

Many examples originate from religious contexts, including church altarpieces, temple figures and processional statues. Subjects range from Christian saints and angels to Asian deities and Buddhist figures. Secular decorative carvings, theatrical props and architectural ornaments also feature within the selection for domestic display.

How old are these sculptures?

The pieces span multiple centuries, ranging from medieval fragments dating to the sixteenth century up to early twentieth-century examples. Dates are assigned through stylistic analysis of the carving technique and material composition. Regional traditions in Europe and Asia continued specific aesthetic approaches across long periods.

Gesso is a preparation mixture consisting of a binder mixed with chalk, gypsum or pigment. Artisans coated raw wood surfaces with this substance to create an absorbent, smooth foundation for gilding. The quality and thickness of the gesso layer influence how the subsequent gold leaf reflects light.