Cermet MgO/Au films prepared by rf sputtering are found to be highly absorbing in the solar spectrum and highly transparent in the infrared. Excellent selective absorbers, with solar absorptivity of over 0.9 and infrared emissivity of less than 0.1, have been produced by depositing such films on metal substrates. Films deposited on Mo‐coated stainless steel are stable in air up to 400 °C.