Gilding
gil·ding | ˈgil-diŋ
noun
An object decorated with a thin layer of gold, gold leaf, or gold foil
Gilding is the process of applying a thin layer of gold, gold leaf or gold foil to the surface of another material, often a more durable metal. Gilding has been done for centuries, dating back to ancient Greece and Rome, and was originally done with ritual items, to make items look and feel more luxurious than they might be otherwise. Gilding is still done today in many forms. Gold leaf gilding, for example, is done in a number of fields. In the jewelry industry, gilding is done through a variety of methods, including fire gilding, gold plating, creating gold-filled items, and PVD gilding. There are also gilding methods used for glass, ceramic and porcelain.