Sydney's Original Gilding School
Two Days. The Ancient Craft of Gilding. Yours to Keep.
A weekend in our South Hurstville studio with master gilder Karl Eggert and his wife Brigitte, the only people teaching professional gilding in Australia.
50+ years of craft · Parliament House NSW · Sydney Town Hall · Sydney 2000 Olympic chariot
Only 2 students per class. Next class fills fast.
A Note From Brigitte
Most people never get to try this.
Hello, I'm Brigitte. My husband Karl was trained in Germany over fifty years ago, and we've been teaching gilding from our South Hurstville studio for twenty-five years.
What you'll do over a weekend with us is something most artists, designers, and curious creatives have never had the chance to try. Real, hands-on gilding. The same techniques used on cathedral altars, antique frames, and the Parliament House restorations Karl has worked on.
You'll learn with Dutch metal, aluminium leaf, copper, and imitation silver. You'll see how a thin sheet of metal becomes a glowing surface that lifts everything around it.
By the end of Sunday, you'll walk out with your own Egyptian plaque, a Daphne plaque, and four sample boards. You'll also walk out with a skill very few people in this country can teach.
— Brigitte 💛
What You'll Make
Three pieces. Yours to take home.
Egyptian Plaque
A traditional Egyptian-style plaque, fully gilded by you. The centrepiece of the weekend.
Four Sample Boards
Four small boards, each finished in a different metal: Dutch, aluminium, copper, and imitation silver. A full reference set you'll keep.
Daphne Plaque
A square plaque of Daphne, goddess of the gardens, gilded by you in your chosen metal. A beautiful decorative piece to take home.
All materials and refreshments included. Plus a celebratory wine with 24-karat gold leaf and a gilded TimTam at the end of day two.
What You'll Learn
Real techniques. Real results. No experience needed.
- ✦Surface preparation and bole application
- ✦Laying Dutch metal, aluminium leaf, copper, and imitation silver
- ✦Antique patinas and ageing techniques
- ✦Sealing and finishing for longevity
- ✦The history of gilding, a craft thousands of years old
- ✦How to apply these techniques to your own art, furniture, or interiors
Students
They came on a Saturday. They left with this.
About Your Teachers
Karl Eggert. A Master Gilder recognised around the world.
Karl began his training as an apprentice and became a Master Gilder in his late twenties. Since then he's worked across the world — advising on prestigious projects and teaching a legion of gilders the craft from the ground up.
His reputation for detail, commitment and uncompromising standards is why his name keeps appearing on the projects that matter. And it's why he founded the Art Gilding Academy — to pass the craft on, properly, to the next hands.
Thousands of students from around the world have sat at his bench. This weekend, you sit at the same one. No YouTube course. No hobbyist. You're learning from the source.
What to Expect
Everything you need to know.
When
Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Two full days of hands-on work, with refreshment breaks throughout the day.
Where
63 George Street, South Hurstville NSW 2221. Free parking on the street. Train: Hurstville station, 8 minutes' walk.
What's Included
All materials, tools, refreshments, your finished pieces, a celebratory wine and gilded TimTam at the end. Just bring yourself.
Upcoming Dates
Three classes left this season.
April 18 & 19, 2026
2 spots
May 16 & 17, 2026
1 spot left
June 13 & 14, 2026
2 spots
Investment
$965 total. $200 to reserve.
Two days of one-on-one teaching with Karl and Brigitte. All materials, your three finished pieces, refreshments, and the wine and gold-leaf TimTam celebration.
A $200 deposit secures your seat. The balance is due 14 days before your class.
Reserve Your Spot
Tell us a bit about you.
We'll be in touch within 24 hours to confirm your dates and walk you through the deposit.
FAQ
A few things people ask.
Three classes left this season.
Two students each. First in, first served.