Silver Leaf Chinoiserie
ChinoiserieThis silver leaf chinoiserie piece was created by Kensington Gilders as a standalone decorative panel, combining traditional silver leaf techniques with oriental-inspired painting. Chinoiserie panels of this type have a long history in English interior decoration, from the lacquered cabinets and screens imported from the Far East in the 17th century through to the hand-painted wallpapers that became popular in grand houses during the Georgian period.
The panel was prepared with a smooth gesso ground before the silver leaf was applied. We used genuine silver leaf rather than aluminium, applying it with oil size in a careful, overlapping pattern that ensured complete coverage without visible seams. Silver leaf is more challenging to work with than gold in some respects. It is thinner and more prone to tearing, and it oxidises if not properly sealed. Once the leaf was laid and dried, we applied a coat of transparent shellac to create a protective barrier against tarnishing.
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The chinoiserie decoration was then painted by hand over the silver ground. The design draws on classic 18th-century English chinoiserie, with branches of blossoming prunus, Song dynasty-style birds and scattered butterflies. The colour palette was deliberately restrained, with soft greens, muted pinks and touches of ochre, to allow the silver leaf ground to remain the dominant visual element. Too much colour and the silver becomes merely a background; the skill lies in balancing decoration and ground so that both contribute to the whole.
The painting technique itself is a specialised skill that sits somewhere between fine art and decorative craft. The brushes used are traditional sable-hair rounds, and the paint is applied in thin, translucent washes built up in layers. Branches are laid in first, then leaves and flowers, and finally the birds and other details. The whole process is slow and deliberate. There is no going back over a mistake on a silver leaf surface without damaging the leaf beneath.
The finished panel is suitable for hanging in a drawing room, hallway or bedroom, and will retain its beauty for generations with minimal care.
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