Gilding refers to the decoration of a surface in gold, silver or other materials. In medieval times the expensive glittering appearance of a devotional object was seen as an aid to heavenly thoughts, reflecting the 'golden glow of worship'.
It was also an important sign to others of the amount of money a person or institution was prepared to spend in their devotion to God, especially when gold leaf was used.
There were two forms of gilding used in the Daddi triptych, 'water gilding' for the background surfaces and haloes, and 'mordant gilding' for the decoration of textiles and the edges of robes.
