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©Jhoseth Silva
©Jhoseth Silva
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©Jhoseth Silva

Silke Droessaert

Silke Droessaert Gilder
©Jhoseth Silva

Creative gilding

  • • Silke is a gilder, frame maker and restorer
  • • Her use of gilding is innovative and artistic
  • • She embellishes traditional Swiss objects with a twist

When she was a teenager, Silke Droessaert would visit all the ateliers of her town, in search for one that would inspire her. She came across an atelier that specialised in framing and gilding and has been committed to the craft ever since. Years of experience mean that Silke can now restore almost any gilded wood, and in her frames she adapts the colours to complement those of the painting. Her creative side comes out in her gilding work, an art that she respects in its traditional style. To bestow a matte or shiny finish, or to enhance a piece with creative and innovative touches, this is where Silke rejoices in her craft. From the Japanese art of kintsugi to bringing a sparkle to traditional Swiss objects, her use of gilding follows her to the end of her imagination.

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Works

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The Olympic House

This small sculpture represents a key in the shape of the new International Olympic Committee building in Lausanne. It was made for the inauguration of the building in 2019. It is made of MDF coated with several layers of calcium carbonate, finely sanded and covered with gilding plate and fine gold leaf. The surface is then polished with agate stone for a matte and shiny finish, a technique known as 'gilding in tempera'.

Photo: ©All Rights Reserved
Kintsugi restored lamp

This is a terracotta lamp. The lamp was broken into several pieces and was glued back together and restored in the Kintsugi style. Made with the materials of gilding on wood, the cracks were coated with several layers of blanc de Troyes, finely sanded, and covered with gilding plate and fine gold leaf. The surface of the gold fillet was then polished with agate stone for a brilliant finish, a technique known as 'gilding in tempera'.

Photo: ©All Rights Reserved
Ancient African sculpture

This ancient African sculpture was found in a flea market and embellished with gold. Its wooden tongue was coated with several layers of blanc de Troyes (calcium carbonate), finely sanded and covered with gold plate and fine gold leaf. Then the surface was polished with agate stone for a shiny finish, a technique known as 'gilding in tempera'.

Photo: ©All Rights Reserved
Empty frames

These are two empty frames. The wood of the frames was covered with finely sanded calcium carbonate and painted with shades of grey. Natural pigments were used and mixed with warm rabbit skin glue. These different colours were sanded and protected with a matte varnish.

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Traditional Swiss cow toy

This traditional wooden cow toy was found in a flea market and embellished with gold. Silke Droessaert has created spots on the cow, with several layers of blanc de Troyes (calcium carbonate). The raised white surfaces were then finely sanded and covered with gilding plate and fine gold leaf. The surface is polished with agate stone for a matte and shiny finish, a technique known as 'gilding in tempera'.

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