Every piece. Made by hand. Finished to perfection.
From raw to remarkable
Every Gilded Icons sculpture goes through a precise electroplating process that transforms ordinary resin into extraordinary metal. Here is how we do it.
Step 1The Clay Model
Every piece begins as a handmade clay model. Our sculptors work entirely by eye and hand, shaping every detail, every expression and every curve until the form captures exactly the character and personality we're after. There are no shortcuts at this stage — a flawed clay model means a flawed piece forever after, so we take as long as it takes to get it right.
Step 2Resin Cast & Sanding
Once the clay model is approved, a mould is taken and the piece is cast in durable resin. This resin cast is then hand sanded, smoothing every seam and surface until it's flawless to the touch. This is the most time-consuming stage of the entire process — any imperfection left here will show through every layer that follows.
Step 3White Primer
Before any plating begins, the sculpture is coated in a fine white primer. This creates a perfectly even base layer and seals the resin surface, ensuring the electroplating that follows bonds cleanly and evenly across every part of the piece — right down to the smallest detail.
Step 4Electroplating & Finish
The primed sculpture is then electroplated — a precision process where an electric current bonds a fine layer of real metal to the surface, whether that's gleaming gold, mirror chrome, or vivid colour. Each piece is finished entirely by hand, polished and inspected before it ever leaves our studio. What started as a lump of clay is now a flawless, mirror-bright collector's piece.