The development of gilding techniques in the Germanic area during the 1st millennium AD.

Abstract

During the first millennium AD, gilding is one of the common techniques for the decoration of ornaments in the Germanic area. Without scientific investigation the different techniques applied on archaeological finds are hard to distinguish. Nevertheless, on the basis of material analyses and on the observation of typical features on the objects as quality of workmanship, selection and thickness of the chosen materials, it is possible to reconstruct the development of gilding techniques. In the article the widely known gilding techniques are described and their specific advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Further on, changes in the execution and design of gildings are also presented. The tendencies of the development of gilding are exemplarily analysed by fibulas and brooches dating to the first millennium AD.