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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.
Intarsia
A decorative design sunk into a surface, as with mosaics.
Lacquer
A hard protective varnish, often pigmented.
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.
Sheraton Style
An American Classical style of furniture that features delicate lines and Neoclassical motifs and ornamentation.
Side Table
A short table used as an accent piece.
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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