goldworkn.
/ˈɡəʊldwəːk/, U.S. /ˈɡoʊldˌwərk/ 1.
a. Work done in gold; material, articles, or decoration made of gold.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > artistic work in metal > [noun] > art of working in gold > articles
orfevreriea1475
goldwork1481
goldsmithery1883
1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 40 Many a costly Iewel with riche stones sette in golde werk [Du. gulden wercke] whiche coste many a thousand marke.
1540 in T. Dickson Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1877) VII. 408 Chenȝeis, ringis,..tergettis, and vther gold wark.
1571 J. Chillester tr. ‘Chelidonius Tigurinus’ Inst. Christian Princes 118 I pray you what is become of these their preciouse bodies (so adorned & decked with purple,..enriched with preciouse stones and golde worke, and suche other kynde of vanities).
1657 J. Davies tr. H. D'Urfé Astrea I. 256 A little Mirror..as rich as possibly Art could make it, both in the curiosity of the Gold work, and in the Enamell.
1737 S.-Carolina Gaz. 29 Oct. 4/1 Christopher Webb Gold-smith..makes all sorts of Silver and Gold Work after the newest fashion at reasonable rates.
1781 St James's Chron. 31 Mar. Consequently more Gold Work must be carried to Goldsmiths Hall to be stamped.
1844 R. M. Milnes Palm Leaves 140 Such gold-work as fairies fabricate.
1883 A. H. Church Precious Stones iii. 23 It is employed for covering fine gold-work and miniatures.
1910 D. G. Hogarth in Encycl. Brit. I. 248/1 The magnificent gold work of the later period..should be compared with stone work in Crete.
1974 J. Brunner Times without Number (1981) 71 I recall the Marquesa saying to me how much she admires the goldwork and featherwork of the Aztecs.
2013 A. Horning Ireland in Virginian Sea i. 95 A hoard of sixteenth-century coins and goldwork recovered from the Cherry Island crannog.
b. The craft or process of working in gold.
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society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > [noun] > working with gold
goldsmithery1380
goldwork1761
goldsmithy1843
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > artistic work in metal > [noun] > art of working in gold
goldsmithery1380
gold working1751
goldwork1761
goldsmithy1843
1761 tr. A.-Y. Goguet Orig. Laws, Arts, & Sci. II. i. v. 158 Let us chuse some proper subjects to make known the progress of gold work.
1820 J. G. Jackson Acct. Timbuctoo & Housa 475 They acknowledge the superiority of Europeans in all arts except that of gold work.
1861 C. W. King Antique Gems (1866) 16 It may be added that our Malachite was the Chrysocolla of the Romans, a name also given to native verdigris, from its use as a solder for gold work.
1915 Burlington Mag. May 78/1 The painter's own early training in goldwork helped in the development of his style.
2006 N.Y. Times 1 Dec. e35/2 Certain ancient techniques of goldwork were still being practiced by rural craftsmen outside of Rome.
2. Usually in plural. A place or establishment where gold is mined, washed, or processed. Cf. gold working n. 2. Now somewhat rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > workplace > places for working with specific materials > place for working with metal > [noun] > other metals
goldwork1581
copper-work1631
brass-work1665
silver-work1674
copper-works1716
lead-worksa1728
goldsmithy1878
1581 T. Nicholas tr. A. de Zárate Discov. & Conquest Peru f. 15 Since the discouery of the Mines of Potosi, they leaue the gold mines, and worke in those siluer Mines, because therein they finde a greater gaine then in the golde workes.
1683 J. Pettus tr. L. Ercker ii. ii. 102 in Fleta Minor i Gold-Washers..have for the Gold-works [Ger. Goltwerck] a special proving.
1722 W. Wollaston Relig. of Nature ix. 201 The gold-works in the confines of Egypt.
1773 Lloyd's Evening Post 22 Dec. A treble cordon of troops surrounded the district where the gold works are situated.
1812 J. Mawe Trav. Interior Brazil xiii. 227 We visited a diamond work called Montero, about two miles up the river, and went a league further to a gold-work called Carapata.
1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece V. xlii. 201 Datus was proverbial..for the richness of its gold-works.
1905 Financial Times 25 Apr. 5/6 A highly successful proprietor of mines and gold works.
1973 Engin. & Mining Jrnl. Feb. 135/1 Lonrho's asset in Ghana is Ashanti Goldfields Corp., presently the only non-government-owned gold works.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2018; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1481