Gold Leaf Glass Sign Battersea London
Sign WritingKensington Gilders created a traditional gold leaf glass sign in Battersea, London. Gold leaf on glass — or glass gilding as it is properly known — is one of the oldest and most enduring forms of signage. Walk down any traditional high street in London and you will see examples of it above shop fronts, in pub windows, and on the doors of professional offices. There is a reason it has survived for centuries: nothing else looks quite like it.
The technique involves applying gold leaf to the reverse side of a sheet of glass, so that the gold is protected behind the glass surface and will not wear away from handling or weather exposure. The result is a sign that can last decades with virtually no maintenance — far outlasting painted signs or modern vinyl lettering.
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For this Battersea project, we used 23.5 carat gold loose leaf applied with a gelatine size onto the reverse of the glass panel. The lettering was first drawn up as a full-size pattern, then transferred to the glass in reverse. Each letter was carefully outlined and the surrounding gold leaf removed with a fine pointed stick and brush to reveal the clean letterforms. This outlining process, known as "cutting in," demands a very steady hand and years of practice — one slip and you have a visible flaw in the finished sign.
After the gilding was complete, we applied a backing of black japan paint behind the gold letters to give them depth and opacity, and the remaining glass was left clear to allow light through. The contrast between the brilliant gold lettering and the transparency of the surrounding glass is what gives these signs their distinctive, elegant quality.
Glass gilding is a skill that we have practised since the company was founded in 1985, and it remains one of the services most frequently requested by pub landlords, shop owners, hotels and private clients across London and the South East.
