Silke Droessaert

Gilder

©Jhoseth Silva

Creative gilding

Silke is a gilder, frame maker and restorer
Her use of gilding is innovative and artistic
She embellishes traditional Swiss objects with a twist

When she was a teenager, Silke Droessaert would visit all the ateliers of her town, in search for one that would inspire her. She came across an atelier that specialised in framing and gilding and has been committed to the craft ever since. Years of experience mean that Silke can now restore almost any gilded wood, and in her frames she adapts the colours to complement those of the painting. Her creative side comes out in her gilding work, an art that she respects in its traditional style. To bestow a matte or shiny finish, or to enhance a piece with creative and innovative touches, this is where Silke rejoices in her craft. From the Japanese art of kintsugi to bringing a sparkle to traditional Swiss objects, her use of gilding follows her to the end of her imagination.

Interview

©Jhoseth Silva

©Jhoseth Silva

What sort of gilding do you do?: I do gilding in the traditional way, with tempera or on metal. I also do gilding on panels, and frames in the old style, moulded or sculpted. I can either age them to have a worn and patinated aesthetic, or leave the gilding as shiny, which is the new trend.
How does one get a matte or shiny finish?: My gilding is done with fine gold leaf and tempera. I polish the gold with agate stone for matte or shiny finishes; mixing the two is a true traditional skill. All complicated frames include a mixture of matte and shiny, and this mixture can only be done in tempera.
How do you innovate your use of gilding?: I used to restore frames that were missing mouldings in such a way that the repair was invisible. Then I integrated the philosophy of Kintsugi into my practice: when a moulding is missing, I do not resculpt the shape, I restore the injured area and make it glittering gold.
Do you also use gilding for creative projects?: I gild traditional Swiss wooden objects: a pepper tree, traditional masks, little cows… I make them to uphold traditional gilding which mixes matte and gold.

Silke Droessaert is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1980