Vermeil
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Vermeil (pronounced /ˈvɜrmɪl/ or /vərˈmeɪ/; French: [vɛʁˈmɛj]), a French word which came into use in the English language in the 19th century for the earlier term silver gilt,[1] is a combination of sterling silver, gold, and other precious metals. It is commonly used as a component in jewelry. A typical example is sterling silver coated with 14 carat (58%) gold. To be considered vermeil, the gold must also be at least 10 carat (42%) and be at least 1.5 micrometres thick. Sterling silver covered with another metal cannot be called vermeil.
Vermeil can be produced by either fire gilding or electrolysis. The original fire-gilding process was developed in France in the mid-1700s; however, France later banned the production of vermeil because over time artisans developed blindness due to mercury involved in the process. Today, vermeil is safely produced by electrolysis.
The White House has a collection of vermeil tableware kept on display (when not in use) in the Vermeil Room.
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- ^ Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd. Edition (1989)
