ormolu

[ awr-muh-loo ]

noun

1. Also called mosaic gold. an alloy of copper and zinc used to imitate gold.
2. Also called bronze doré, gilded metal, especially cast brass or bronze gilded over fire with an amalgam of gold and mercury, used for furniture mounts and ornamental objects.
3. gold or gold powder prepared for use in gilding.

ormolu

/ ˈɔːməˌluː /

noun

1. 1. a gold-coloured alloy of copper, tin, or zinc used to decorate furniture, mouldings, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      an ormolu clock

2. gold prepared to be used for gilding

Word History and Origins

Origin of ormolu¹

1755–65; < French or moulu ground gold, equivalent to or (< Latin aurum ) + moulu, past participle of moudre to grind < Latin molere

Word History and Origins

Origin of ormolu¹

C18: from French or moulu ground gold

Example Sentences

Swooping staircases and ormolu furnishings offer bland painted context for a relatively small handful of 18th century French and German decorative objects — teapots, candlesticks, dinnerware, a tall clock and such — plus engravings, book illustrations, poster graphics, some tourist souvenirs, a few film clips and concept art for assorted Disney projects, including theme parks in Paris, Hong Kong and Anaheim.

From Los Angeles Times

Braydon’s first word was “ormolu” — a gold-colored alloy of copper, zinc and sometimes tin.

From Seattle Times

To be a writer is to be able to stride into a billionaire’s home and critique the gauche fussiness of an ormolu clock over the mantelpiece when you couldn’t afford the cut flowers in the powder room.

From New York Times

Clars had described the clocks in its auction catalog as “a rare pair of Chinese ormolu bronze automaton clocks” manufactured in a workshop in the southern port city of Guangzhou.

From New York Times

The burnt-umber brocade walls of their 34-room apartment, with its George II gilt-wood chairs and antique ormolu tables, were hung with Old Masters; on the marble mantel sat a harp that neither inhabitant knew how to play.

From New York Times