Electrogilding

/ɪˈlɛktrəʊɡɪldɪŋ/ noun

Definition

The process of applying a thin layer of gold onto an object's surface using electrical current and gold compounds.

Etymology

Gerund form of electrogild. This process became a cornerstone of the jewelry industry in the Victorian era, allowing mass production of gold-finished items.

Kelly Says

Medieval craftspeople had to use mercury amalgam to gild objects, which poisoned them over time—electrogilding was a revolutionary discovery that made the process safe and actually better-looking!

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