What: Back-painted glass so design show through on front using gold- & silver-leaf.
History: There is a long tradition of this technique in Italy, examples as far back as pre-Roman times. It was revived in Italy in the 13th century and then again by Jean-Baptiste Glomy, a French art dealer and decorator to which the technique received it's name.
Use: Used to gussy-up furniture, mirrors, frames, and other decorative objects. Since it is made with gold & silver-leaf it is not inexpensive. But it adds dimension and layers to an object that nothing else can. Great for adding a bit of glam to a space or introducing furniture that is not visually heavy. Light bounces around and is softer than plain mirror or glass.