The focus of the Museum of the Gilding Arts is the history, craft, and use of gold and silver leaf in architecture and in decoration throughout a history that dates back to the days of the ancient Pharaohs of Egypt.
There are examples of gold and silver leaf, artifacts used in the application of the precious metal leaf, and displays showing how leaf was manufactured.
The exhibit features items from the Society of Gilders' Swift Collection. The M. Swift and Sons company manufactured gold leaf in Hartford, CT, and began its operations in 1887.