A
Acanthus - Ornamental leaf found in classic Greek and Roman decoration, used throughout Romanesque, Gothic and the Renaissance as a key decorative element.
Alabaster - Stone with a smooth surface, similar in appearance to marble. Used in making lamps because of its translucent qualities.
Antique - Furniture or decorative objects which are at least 100 years old.
Apron - The part of a table or shelf which extends downward from underneath the table top.
Arabesque - Ornamentation made up of foliage and scrolling. Originating from the iconoclastic period in ancient Byzantium.
Armoire - A tall wardrobe or cupboard designed for the storage of clothing, originating in 16th century France.
Art Deco - A style from the1920's to the 1940's consisting of simple geometric elements and clean lines.
Art Nouveau - A style from the 1880's to the 1920's that was inspired by plants and animals and features smooth curves and arabesque detailing.
Ash - A hardwood with gray-brown tones, found throughout Europe, Asia, and North America.
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B
Banding - Strip of veneer used as a border for table tops, drawer fronts, etc.
Baroque - A style decoration that began in Italy in the late 16th century and is characterized by heavy carving, gilding, sweeping curves.
Bergere - A French armchair whose that is upholstered or caned between the arm and the seat.
Bevel - The edge of a mirror or piece of glass that has been cut at an slant.
Boiserie - Decorative French panels, carved or painted.
Bombe - A convex curve on the front of a piece of furniture, usually a chest or commode, typical of the Regence and Louis XV periods. Literally translates to "blown out".
Bonnet - The top piece of an armoire or cabinet, usually carved.
Bonnetiere - A slender armoire with a single door designed to store woven goods.
Boulle - Type of marquetry using tortoiseshell, metal, and brass, introduced by Andre Charles Boulle in 18th century France.
Bureau - French term for "desk".
Burl - An area of irregular growth in a tree where the grain has curled. Used for its decorative properties in panels and veneers.
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C
Cabriole leg - A stylized leg with an "S" shape which was introduced in the Regence period and is characteristic of Louis XV furniture.
Candelabra - A branched candlestick or lamp stand.
Case piece - A piece of furniture, such as an armoire, buffet or chest of drawers, which provides storage space.
Casters - Small wheels fastened to supporting legs of heavy furniture to facilitate movement.
Chaise - A long chair designed for reclining, usually upholstered.
Chinoiserie - European adaptation of Oriental design. Black and red lacquer, imagery of pagodas and landscapes, and bamboo are commonly found in this style.
Commode - A French term for a low chest of drawers.
Confiturier - A small cabinet meant to store preserves and jams.
Console - A table that can be attached to or place against a wall.
Corner cabinet - A cupboard designed to fit into the corner of a room and can either be hung or free-standing.
Credenza - A sideboard with doors surmounted by drawers, used for storage.
Crown molding - The highest molding on a door, window, or cabinet.
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D
Day bed - A narrow bed designed to be used for seating during the day.
Demilune - A crescent or moon shaped piece of furniture, usually a table.
Directoire - The period in France following the Revolution during which the monarchy was replaced by a directorate.
Doughbin - Similar in appearance to a chest raised on four legs, with a lid that either hinges upward or slides horizontally on grooves. Originally designed to store and cover bread dough as is rises.
Dovetail - A method of carpentry in which a wooden tenon in the shape of a dove's tail is interlocked with a corresponding piece of wood. Used frequently to join the corners of drawers.
Drop-leaf table - A table designed so that the leaves with fold down when not in use.
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E
Elm - A finely textured wood with a light brownish-red color tone.
Embossing - A process of stamping, hammering or molding a material so that a design protrudes beyond the surface.
Empire - The stylistic period in France associated with the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. Greek, Roman, and Egyptian motifs were widely used.
Encoignure - A corner cabinet.
Enfilade - A long buffet which runs along a wall.
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F
Finial - An ornament used atop the corners of a table or at the top of a lamp. Common motifs are acorns, flames, flowers, or pineapples.
Fleur-de-lis - A stylized lily used as the symbol of French royalty.
Fluting - A decoration formed by parallel, concave grooves. Originating in classical columns, fluting is characteristic of Louis XVI period furniture.
French Provincial - A style of furniture created by craftsmen in the French provinces.
Fresco - A painting done in wet plaster, originating in Italy and used generally in mural decoration.
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G
Gallery - An ornamental railing or cresting surrounding the top of a table, stand, or desk.
Gateleg table - A table with two drop leaves which are supported by a pair of legs that swing out from the center, like gates.
Gilding - Ornamental coating of gold leaf or gold dust.
Girandole - An elaborate candelabra, usually with crystals.
Gueridon - A side table, usually with a circular top and a single, center leg.
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H
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I
Inlay - A form of decoration involving small cut pieces of ivory, metal, mother-of-pearl, or wood which are fitted into carved areas of the same shape on a solid piece of furniture to create a design or picture.
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G
Japanning - A technique in which furniture is enameled with shellac, usually black, gold or red.
Jardinere - A decorative French planter or pot used as a plant stand.
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K
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L
Lacquer - Oriental, high gloss varnish made from the sap of the lacquer tree.
Ladder back - An arm or side chair having a back with several horizontal slats which resemble a ladder.
Louis XIII - The king of France between 1610 and 1643. Furniture of this period is large and more ornamental than was common in the prior period (the Renaissance).
Louis XIV - The king of France between 1643 and 1715. Furniture of this period is large, symmetrical and masculine, often called Baroque.
Louis XV - The king of France between 1715 and 1774, known as the 'Sun King'. Furniture of this period has soft, flowing lines and features rich ornamentation with intricate carving, gold leaf, and inlay, often called Rococo.
Louis XVI - The king of France between 1774 and 1793. Furniture of this period is characteristically symmetrical with rectangular lines, mahogany is the predominant wood.
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M
Mahogany - A hard wood with straight grain and silky texture, bright golden red to deep brownish red in tone.
Majolica - Tin glazed pottery originating in the Italian Renaissance, also made in France and England.
Mantel - The projecting shelf around a fireplace.
Maple - A hard wood with uniform texture and a light reddish brown tone.
Marquetry - A decorative technique in which a variety of materials (burl wood veneers, ivory, metal, mother of pearl) are inserted onto a veneered surface. When the pattern is geometric, it is referred to as parquetry.
Meridienne - A French sofa with one arm that is higher than the other.
Monastery table - A style of table originating in French or Italian monasteries, usually constructed of oak or fir, long and narrow, often with a stretcher for support.
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N
Neo-classic - A period of design in the middle 18th century which drew upon classic Greek and Roman style.
Nesting tables - A group of tables, usually three, made so that one fits under the other.
Niche - A recessed space in a wall meant to hold a statue or other ornamentation.
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O
Oak - A hard wood exhibiting great variety in tone, from light tan to dark chocolate brown.
Ormolu - Cast bronze ornamentation which is gilded, also called gilt bronze.
Os de Mouton - Translates literally as "sheep bone", a style of leg which curls and popular in the Louis XIII style.
Ottoman - A low, upholstered seat which is sometimes used as a foot rest.
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P
Parquetry - Inlay in a geometric design.
Patina - Refers to the surface of a material (wood, glass or metal) which shows some sign of aging, weathering or other exposure. Most notably, the oxidation that occurs to copper as it is exposed to air and turns green.
Pediment - A triangular space above a doorway, window or cabinet, originating from classical Greek and Roman architecture.
Pilaster - An architectural term for a flattened column used as decoration rather than structural support.
Pine - A soft wood with uniform texture and a light tone, sometimes shows strong annual rings
Polychrome - Literally translates to "many colours" and referring to painting or decoration in several colors.
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Q
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R
Regence - The period of design in France from 1715 to 1728 when Philippe, the Duke of Orleans, served as regent. Furniture of this period has graceful curves and cabriole legs. Served as the foundation for the Rococo style of Louis XV.
Renaissance - Beginning in Italy in the 14th century, the renaissance was a revival of interest in classical themes. Furniture of this period is simple in structure with a generous use of classical ornament, such as the acanthus leaf, columns and pilasters.
Rosewood - An exotic hard wood with dark red and black or brown variegation.
Rush - A grass like material that is plaited and used for seating, especially on ladder back chairs.
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S
Sarreguemines - A French town that famously produced Majolica.
Salon - The French term for "large room", typically a room in which one receives company or entertains guests.
Satinwood - A tropical hard wood with bright golden yellow wood, found in South America, India and Asia.
Scallop shell - A semi-circular shell with ridges radiating from a point at the bottom.
Sconce - A lighting device that attaches to a wall, often made of glass or metal.
Secretaire - A tall piece of furniture with drawers on the bottom and a shelf that drops down off the face of the piece to serve as a writing suface.
Sideboard - A long case piece used in a dining area to serve off the top of and store china, often has drawers in the center and flanking doors.
Stretcher - A rail that runs horizontally between furniture legs and serves as a stabilizing and strengthening rail.
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T
Tallboy - A high chest of drawers.
Tenon and mortise - A method of joining two pieces of wood in which a mortise (groove) is cut into one piece and a tenon (tongue) is cut into the second. The tenon fits into the mortise and is secured by wooden dowel pins.
Terracotta - Italian for "baked earth", a reddish brown, hard baked clay used to make building materials (such as bricks) and pottery, which may then be glazed.
Tilt-top table - A table with a hinged top attached to a pedestal base, the top of the table can be shifted from a horizontal to a vertical position.
Tole - A French word for tin, it is usually decorated by means of painting or japanning.
Torchiere - A candlestick.
Trumeau - A mirror divided into two sections, separated by a decorative lintel, featuring a second mirror or painting in the upper portion. Originating in the Louis XV and Louis XVI periods as over mantel decoration.
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U
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V
Veneer - A method of furniture decoration in which thin layers or strips of fine wood are placed on the surface of the piece, which is generally made of a less expensive material.
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W
Walnut - A hard wood with even textures and fine grain, honey gold to deep brown in tone. Used throughout French history in fine furniture construction.
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