For an artist or a craftsman gold is a risky material in which to seek eternal fame. Gold is not just an artists medium it is also a store of wealth and during hard times it tends to get melted down no matter how beautifully it is sculpted.

A surviving piece of the Hapsburg gold in Vienna.

If you are seeking eternal fame, stone is a better medium. It has very little value outside the sculpture and is more durable than paintings. However a good idea like the steam engine or a phrase like “The apple of my eye.” are likely to outlast them all.