Can Gold Be Recycled from Gilt Glass?

Over the centuries, artisans have developed many ways to apply gold to glass. In ancient Rome, they learned to fuse thin sheets of gold between layers of glass to produce durable, beautiful images of gods and emperors. During the renaissance, they found ways to apply gold leaf to the surface of glass. Later on, master glass artisans learned to apply thin layers of gold to glass objects by immersing them in chemical baths.

Why are we exploring this topic today? Simply because you are likely to come across objects made from gilt glass in more places than you expect. Whether you are searching flea markets and antique sales or liquidating the contents of a home, an office building, an antique store, you will probably find gilt glass in…

Gilt Glass Signs

It was once very common for businesses to display beautiful signs with gold lettering on their doors and exterior windows. Fortunately, a master sign maker named Eric Bates has created this video, which demonstrates exactly how gold leaf can be applied to glass.

Old gilt glass signs can still be found in antique stores and in older office buildings. Generally they contain only small quantities of gold, but if you own a large quantity of them, call us at 800-426-2344.

Gilt Mirrors and Gold-Sheen Glass Panels

It was once not uncommon for very thin decorative layers of gold to be applied to wall mirrors in opulent hotels and ocean liners. Those applications, which used only a sheen of gold, used very small quantities of gold that cannot be recovered and recycled.

But if you happen to own a large quantity of lightly gilded glass, be sure to examine the fixtures and frames that were used to install them, which could contain larger quantities of gold that can be recycled. Call us at 800-426-2344.

Gilt Beverage Glasses

You will find these items in many antique stores and estate sales. Among the most common objects are wine or cordial glasses that have gilt rims; they were quite popular in the 1950s and 1960s. How much recyclable gold do these items worth? In most cases, very little. But it does pay to explore a bit further, because such glasses are sometimes accompanied by punchbowls that have gilt metallic rims, by display boxes that could have gold-plated hardware, and by other accessories that can contain gold that can be reclaimed by a qualified precious metals refinery.

Do You Own Gilt Glass?

If you have come into a quality of glass items that sparkle like gold, you owe it to yourself to find out what they could be worth. Call us at 800-426-2344 to find out if the glass is half empty, or half full… of gold.

Related Posts:

Where to Find Hidden Gold and Other Valuables in and Around Old Houses
Is this a Good Time to Sell My Gold?
Selling Your Gold: What’s the Difference Between an Appraiser and an Assayer?
Raising Funds for Holiday Shopping: Why Not Get Family, Friends and Neighbors Looking for Precious Metals to Recycle?