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Furniture Glossary
Acanthus
a leaf motif found on Classical furniture.
Adirondack Chair
A wooden, outdoor chair with wide arms and low seat; the back and arms are set at a slant.
Alligator Lacquer
A lacquer that cracks as it dries for a patina effect.
Anthemion
A carved palm leaf detail found on Classical furniture.
Apron
The panel that hangs from the top of a table.
Arbor
A shaded sitting place in a garden.
Bachelor's Chest
A short chest of drawers.
Ball and Claw Foot
The termination of a chair or table leg that appears to be a bird or dragon claw holding a ball or orb.
Barley Twist
The spiral carving on a leg or post that resembles a screw thread.
Beading
A carved, round detail that appears to be a string of beads.
Bed Backed Bench
A bench meant to be placed against the footboard of a bed.
Bombe
A piece of furniture with convex sides.
Bonnet Top
A rounded cornice found on cabinets and chests.
Boss
A carved oval ornament on Classical furniture.
Bow Front
A piece of furniture with a curved front.
Branching Scroll
A rinceau motif with leaves.
Breakfront
A cabinet with three sections, the middle of which juts forward.
Broken Pediment
A decorated crest along the top of a chest or wardrobe that features an opening or pierced carving.
Buffet
A cabinet for storing silverware and other dinnerware with no upper cabinet or cupboard.
Bun Foot
The flattened, round termination of a chair or table leg.
Cabriole Leg
A chair or table leg that features an 'S' curve.
Capital
The top end of a pilaster.
Case Goods
Furniture that is not upholstered and has a functional aspect, like a cabinet or table.
Chaise
An upholstered armchair designed with a lengthened back and seat for reclining.
Checkerboard Match
A veneer arranged so the grain gives a checkerboard effect.
Cherry Wood
The wood of the cherry tree; a hardwood with red and pink tones that can be polished.
Cheval Mirror
A vertical mirror resting between two posts.
China Fir
A type of softwood tree, the wood of which is strongly scented, much like cedar.
Chinoiserie
The details on Classical furniture that are influenced by Asian styles.
Classical
A style of furniture that features embellishments influenced by the romanticized visions of antiquity (especially the Greeks and Romans), with some details from Egyptian and even Asian styles.
Cocktail Table
A short table often set within an arrangement of chairs or in front of a sofa.
Collar
A carved ring on the leg of a piece of furniture.
Console Table
A side table meant to be placed against a wall or sofa.
Corbel
A wood projection just under the eave of a roof to support the extra weight.
Cornice
The decorative molding that runs along the top of a cabinet.
Curio
A glass-enclosed display cabinet.
Deck
The part of the frame just below the cushions on a chair or sofa.
Demi-lune
A half circle shaped table.
Dentil Carving
A carved rectangular or square blocks spaced at equal intervals to look like teeth.
Diamond Match
A veneer cut and arranged so the grain creates a diamond pattern.
Dresser
A chest of drawers.
Ebony
A type of hardwood tree, the wood of which is very black and polishes well.
End Table
A side table often used beside a chair or sofa.
Federal
An American Classical style of furniture that features graceful lines and tapered legs.
Finial
The top end of a post or pilaster, often detailed with stylized carving.
Fixture Mirror
A mirror secured to another piece of furniture like a chest or table.
Four Poster
A bed with a headboard and footboard posts tall enough to support a canopy.
Four Way Match
A checkerboard style veneer.
Gallery Rail
A railing that borders a table or counter.
Gilding
Gold colored accents.
Hall Tree
A piece of furniture placed near the entryway of a home; features hooks for hats and coats, a fixture mirror, and a bench.
Hoop Back
A chair with a back for which the top rail curves around to form the arms.
Hutch
A cupboard, often with open top shelves, and enclosed cabinets below.
Inlay
Setting a decorative material, like ivory or marble, into the surface of wooden furniture.
Lacquer
A hard protective varnish, often pigmented.
Intarsia
A decorative design sunk into a surface, as with mosaics.
Ladder Back
A chair back with horizontal slats to resemble a ladder.
Landscape Mirror
A mirror that is wider than it is tall.
Latticework
The open, criss-cross patterning of slats of wood often found in chairs and other wooden furniture.
Loveseat
A sofa that seats two people.
Malaysian Oak
A type of hardwood tree, the wood of which is a light color.
Motif
A theme or consistent pattern in a piece or set of furniture.
Nesting Tables
A set of occasional tables that can fit under one another.
Nightstand
A low chest of drawers set next to a bed.
Occasional Table
Accent pieces like end or side tables.
Patina
Antiquing; aging furniture purposely.
Pedestal Table
A table supported by a single, center pillar.
Pie-Crust Carving
The carved details along the edge of a (often circular) piece of furniture that resemble a crimped pie crust.
Pier Glass
A mirror meant to be hung over a table (like a console table) at window height.
Piercing
A cutout detail in a chair.
Pilaster
Mock pillars found on furniture.
Plinth
The solid bottom (as opposed to feet)of case furniture.
Portrait Mirror
A mirror that is taller than it is wide.
Recamier
A one armed sofa with a sloping back that is nearly level with the seat at one end.
Relief
A carved detail that projects from the surface of the furniture.
Rinceau
A wave and spiral motif found on Classical furniture.
Rocaille
A shell and stone motif found on Classical furniture.
Rosette
A circular flower detail.
Sabre Leg
The leg of a chair or table that curves outwardly like a sabre.
Scalloped
Ornamentation resembling a scallop’s shell.
Scrolling
A carved detail that appears to scroll like a parchment.
Side Table
A short table used as an accent piece.
Sheraton Style
An American Classical style of furniture that features delicate lines and Neoclassical motifs and ornamentation.
Sofa Table
An occasional table that is meant to be set against the back of a sofa or couch; often as long as the sofa or couch with which it is paired.
Splat
A vertical slat of wood in the back of a chair.
Stretcher
A brace between the legs of a chair or table for extra support and stability.
Tapered Leg
A leg that becomes slimmer at the bottom.
Trellis
A structure that supports climbing plants.
Turning
The curved or spiral carving formed by shaping the leg or trim on a lathe.
Vanity
A dresser with a fixture mirror.
Veneer
A thin slice of wood used to finish a solid base or core.
Victorian
A Classical style of furniture that features influences of Gothic design with elaborate decoration and heavy proportions.
V-Match
A veneer cut and arranged so the grain forms a pattern resembling a series of V’s.
Walnut
A type of hardwood tree, the wood of which can be polished to a purplish-brown.
Wardrobe
A cabinet with drawers and, often, closet space.
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