glossary of wooden work

7/22/2019 Glossary of Wooden Work

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Glossary of Woodworking Terms

If you just entered out site: Greetings - this glossary page was setup as an educational toolfor our customers. It defines all the woodworking terms we could think of, and we keep

adding new ones. We hope to eventually expand this to be a photo encyclopedia of

woodworking. Please take a moment to visit the rest of our site for examples of Early

American, Folk Art, Modern, and other style furniture and woodcarving projects.

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M

N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W| X |Y|Z

Abacus: The topmost member of the capital of a

column.

Abutment: A reinforcing block or wall of masonryadding support to the great vaults &

arches.

Acanthus Leaf: A decorative wood carving representing

the ragged leaf of the acanthus plant, a

motive of classic Greek and romanorigin.

Acorn: Turned ornament resembling an acorn.

Acorns are common in Jacobeanfurniture as finials on chair posts andbedposts, as pendants and as the profile

of leg turnings in Jacobean tables.

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Acroterium: Originally an ornament on the roof

corners of Greek temples. In classical

furniture, similar ornaments applied to

the top corners of secretaries,bookcases, highboys and other furniture.

Ageing: Decorative technique used to create the

effect of wear-and-tear on a wooden,

painted, plastic or other surfaces.Common in country and rustic

reproductions, also used to create

antique "fakes."
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Alcove: Recessed part of a room. Alcoves serve

as great locations for built-in furniture,

and often house one or more windows.Bed alcoves exist in Pompeian rooms,

and such placing of the sleeping

quarters was common in northernEurope through the Middle Ages and

later. In the 18th century, designs of

special beds such recesses appeared.

Other uses include bookcases andcabinets, dining groups, etc.

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Altarpiece: An individual or group of panels orscreens located near or on the altar.

Ambulatory: A continuous isle, which wraps acircular structure or an apse at its base.

Designed for use in Processions.

American Colonial: Term loosely applied to all Americanfurniture used by the colonies prior to

the American Revolution. This style

includes rough handmade pieces of theearly American frontier, New England

versions of Jacobean and Puritan

(Cromwellian), furniture imported by

settlers from Europe and Americanizedversions of formal English andEuropean designs. There is no clear

division of this period but most agree to

group it into early colonial and latecolonial (American provincial).

American Country: Simple designs originating from the

earliest settlers in America during the

early colonial period (see above). These

pieces are very simple and often roughin design. This charming style is still

very popular today.

American Frontier

(American

Primitive):

A style created during late 1700's to

1800's to meet the demands of thewestern frontier. Noted pieces include

twin wagon seat chairs, sinks without

plumbing, cupboards and cobbler'sbenches. Woods primarily used
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included ash, hickory, maple, black

walnut and pine. Pieces of this period

were usually painted black or in primarycolors.

Aniline: The name of a transparent alcoholsolvent dye used to color leather or

wood, deep penetrating by nature.

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Annulet: A circular finishing found on pillars or

piers, sometimes decorated withcarvings.

Antependium: Decorated frontispiece to an altar,

featuring allegorical figures in tapestry

or carved forms.Antique Finish (or

Antiquing):

A paint or stain finish applied to an

object to give an aged look. Techniquescommonly employee use of original

coloring and finishing materials and

procedures. A true antique reproductionwill have a proper "antique" finish in

appearance and process.

Antique: Could be anything ranging from a piece

of furniture to art. The US government

considers any item over 100 years old tobe an antique, whereas most collectors

use 50 years as a benchmark. Furnituremust be pre-1900 or extremely early

20th

century for antique status. Trueantique furniture are pieces made prior

to the mass production machine era

following WWI.

Apothecary Chest: A low chest with small drawers

originally used to store herbs forcooking and medicinal purposes.

Appliqu: Thin decorative feature applied to a

surface, also known as Onlay or

Overlay.

Apron: A board placed to the underside of ashelf, sill, seat, or tabletop for stability

and decoration. Carving or stenciling for


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can add detail to an apron.

Apse: Particular to the East end of Cathedrals,

the Apse is a semicircular form serving

as a culmination. The Apse, generally

domed, will often form the Altar. Theterm is derived from the Medieval Latin

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Arcade: A row of arches set atop piers/columns.

Sometimes refers to the arched roof

itself.

Archivolt: An ornamental molding seen often inarch shaped portals following the lines

of the face with sculpted figures.

Arm Chair: Seating that has both a backrest andarmrests.

Armatures: Iron framework used within mason-less

Rose Windows to support the glassweight.

Armoire: A large mobile cupboard or wardrobe

featuring doors and shelves for clothes

storage, term of French origin. Modern

implementations include bedroomentertainment centers.

Arrow Foot: A cylindrical foot that has tapered and

separated from the leg by a turned ring.

Art Deco: A style characterized by geometricforms and bright, bold colors, popularfrom c. 1918 to 1940.

Art Nouveau: A movement and style of decoration

characterized by sinuous curves and

flowing lines, asymmetry, and flower

and leaf motifs.

Astragal: Small, semi-circular molding applied to

the glazing bars on cabinets' bookcases

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Bachelor's Chest: A small, low chest-of-drawers.

Bail: A metal hook suspended between two
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studs to form a drawer pull.

Baize: Wool fabric resembling felt, usually

green, used on gaming tables.

Baker's Rack: Open slatted back with shelves used for

storing goods in the kitchen

Ball flower: An ornamented ball sculpturesurmounted in the petals of a flower.

Ball Foot: The rounded end of a turned leg having

a hooded effect.

Ball-and-claw Foot: A sculptured foot showing a bird's claw

or animal paws grasping a ball; most

commonly found on a cabriole leg.

Balloon Seat: A chair seat where the front rail bowsforward in a convex or horseshoe shape.

Baluster: An upright, such as a table leg or rail,shaped like a vase or urn.

Bamboo Form: Woodcarving, of Chinese influence, in

the shape of natural bamboo forms.

Banding: Veneer cut into narrow strips and

applied to create a decorative effect,usually found around the edges of tables

and drawer fronts. Also available in asolid wood strip allowing a routed edge

and creating a great illusion of a solidwood piece.

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Bar tracery: The dominant class of Tracery

consisting of decorative patterns formed

from stone bars.

Barley Twist: The turning of a leg of furniture so that

it resembles a screw thread.Baroque: An extravagant and heavily ornate style

of architecture, furniture, and decoration

that originated in 17th century Italy.

Bat-wing Drawer

Pull:

A brass drawer pull that is in the shape

similar to a bat. Usually on Queen Anne

pieces.


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Bead: A small quarter or half round molding.

Bead moldings assist in transitions

between other moldings or areas, andare often flexible enough to conform to

minor discrepancies.

Beaded Molding: A molding style consisting of convex

half-cylinders running the length of themolded piece

Beatle Hole: (See also Worm Holes) Small holesfound in wood, considered a defect in

many instances and a character-

providing element in others such as

rustic furniture pieces. Beatle holes arethe result of snacking powder post

beetles. These insects may survive the

finishing process in dormant form andsuddenly come alive when they reach

room temperature. Finding mysterious

wood dust inside drawers and cabinetsis a symptom of a snacking beetle.

Immediate action must be taken to avoid

further damage to your piece.

Bentwood: Steamed wood bent into a curvilinear

shape. Bentwood is common to suchpieces as oxbow desks staircases, and

archways.

Biedermeier: A 19th-century style originating in

Germany, characterized by lack of

ostentation

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Blanket Chest: A chest used for general storage, usuallykept in the bedroom. Construction may

be of any common chest design, block

front, flat-panel, raised-panel, or simply

plane lumber.

Block Foot: A cube-shaped foot found at the base ofsquare-legged furniture.

Block Front Chest: A chest of drawers in which the center

is concave and the end panels are

convex.


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Block-Front: A unique American furniture form,

mainly found in chests, where the front

is divided vertically by a concave centerand two convex end panels that often

terminate at the top in flat arches or

carved shells.

Bolection Mold: A decorative boldly rounded surfacemold, indicative of the Chippendale

style.

Bombe: Bulbous, curving form; convex fronts

and sides of chests.

Bonnet Top

Highboy:

Highboy with a full dome or hood over

the top of the piece, many antique

highboys are missing their bonnet or

sustained damage over the years.

Bonnet-Top: In cabinetwork, a top with a broken arch

or pediment, or a curved or scroll top

with a central finial motif in the shapeof a flame, urn, etc. Commonly atop a

highboy or secretary. Straight or ogee

molded face.

Boss (Rib-boss): Ornamental masonry strips used to

conceal the breaks in vault work.

Bow Front Chest: A chest-of-drawers with a convex front.

Bracket Foot: A low right-angled foot of a chest, etc.,having two decoratively shaped endsand a vertically first seen in the

18th

century.

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Braganza: An inscrolled or knurled foot.

Sometimes also called "Spanish foot."

Breakfront: A cabinet divided vertically into three

sections, with the middle sectionprojecting forward. Most commonly

seen in hutches, bar backs, or desks.

Buffet (or

Sideboard):

A sideboard without a hutch or storage

cabinet on top.

Bun Foot: A round ball acting as a foot used on


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furniture in the 17th century.

Bureau: A piece of furniture with drawers, used

as a desk. It features either a fall-front,

which slopes at 45 degrees, a cylinder

front, or a tambour front.

Burl: A tree knot or natural grain, sometimes

as result of a cancer, featuring

extremely unique and beautiful

patterning. Woodworkers prize burlwood for many applications where

appearance is of the utmost importance.

Burl wood is inherently unstable and

may impart uncontrollable checks orwarping. Common practice is to shave

burl wood into veneers to avoid such

occurrences.

Butler's Tray Table: A tray with four flip-up handholds thatcan be removed from the table legs on

which it stands. When the sides are

down an oval tabletop is created.

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Butt Joint: The junction of the ends of two pieces

of wood such as on a sill. This is themost inexpensive and the fastest to

constructed, but is weakestwoodworking joint.

Butterfly Table: A small drop-leaf table with swinging

supports resembling a butterfly wing ona rudder.

Butterfly: Inlay of an opposing grain thin slice of

wood used to prevent spread of a check

or crack in wood.

Cabriole leg: A leg or support in the form of a

conventionalized animal's leg with knee,ankle, and foot. Form tends to swell

wider at the top (knee) and bottom

(ankle). Very common in Queen Annedesigns.

Camel back: Back of late Chippendale or

Hepplewhite style, the top rail of which


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was in the form of a serpentine curve.

Canopy: An overhanging shade or shelter above

an artwork or statue sometimes situated

upon pillars.

Capital: The upper element of an architecturalpillar, often finely decorated in

Romanesque and Early Gothic

structures.

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Carolingian: The title of this period owes its origin to

Charles Martel, the Frankish ruler whodefeated the Moors at Poitiers in 732.

The artistic advances of this period were

initiated by Martel's grandsonCharlemagne, who was crowned HolyRoman Emperor in 800. Although the

Carolingian empire itself would not

survive past the ninth century, thecivilizing forces set in motion during

this era would form the foundation for

cultural growth during the Medievalage. Rare examples of Carolingian

architecture remain, excepting such sites

as Minster at Aachen.

Cartouche: A conventionalized shield form used asan ornament.

Casters: Rollers on the end of each foot, behind a

skirt, or open to view that allowed formoving easily.

Chamfer: A corner or edge that is beveled, or cut,

at an angle or beveled.

Check: Crack or split that occurs along the

grain of wood due to uneven internal

pressures. Checking may occur at anytime in the life of a piece of furniture,

and is usually traceable to a sudden

change in temperature and or humidity.Checks may be slowed or stopped using

a butterfly inlay.

Chesser: A combination of a dresser and a chest.


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Chessers are narrower than a dresser

and shorter than a chest, and normally

have a small tilting mirror.

Chest on Chest: A tall chest with a larger chest of

drawers that supports a slightly smallerchest.

Chest: A tall, narrow piece featuring a series of

drawers for storing clothing.

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Cheval Glass: A standing mirror in a freestanding

vertical frame. Also called a dressingmirror.

Chevron: An ancient European design motif

consisting of a pattern of pointed zigzags.

Choir: The section of a CruciformCathedral

located between the Nave and the mainAltar.

Cinquefoil: A five sided design of converging arcs,

often used in framework.

Clubfoot: The foot flares into a flat pad form that

is round in shape.

Cockbead: A small, half-round mold applied to

edges of a drawer front.

Cocktail Table: A table normally positioned in front of asofa, which provides a surface forserving. Cocktail tables are also, known

as a coffee tables.

Coffer: A multi-functional traveling chest with

handles and a domed lid but withoutfeet, usually made of oak.

Column Figure: A statue or sculpted figure, which

serves as a supportive or decorative

shaft within a portal.

Column: Architectural feature originating of

Greek and Roman design. Columns maybe rounded, square, or flat in plain or


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ornate form. Common decorations

include fluting, carving, or applied

designs.

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Commode: A small, low chest with doors ordrawers, many traditionally styled

nightstands are referred to as

commodes.

Console: A term originally applied to a bracket

that supported cornices or shelves andlater used to describe tables that were

affixed to a wall and supported with

legs at the front. Today it describes any

type of table used along a wall.

Corbel: Decorative transitional supportcommonly found on mantels. Corbels

can be simple scrolls, or complex

cherub, lion, horse, or other threedimensional designs. Corbels support

the mantel shelf against the side

columns.

Corner Block or

Brace:

A diagonal brace placed at the corner of

a frame structure to provide strength.Commonly found on the inside corners

of dressers and chests for example.

Corner Cupboard: A triangular shaped dining room chinacabinet made to fit into a corner.

Modern implementations also extend toentertainment centers and display

cabinets.

Cornice: A horizontal molding or group of

moldings crowning the top, or crown, of

a cabinet or other furniture. Commonlyfound on hutches, curios or cupboards.

Cottage Furniture: A style of casual furniture characterized

by being painted and/or decorated.

Cottage pieces often feature turned legsand very simple lines.

Country Style: A casual style that gained popularity in

the 1980's and remains popular today,


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often featuring nature and nostalgic

motifs. The "appearance" of

handcrafting is also important includingvisible distressing or ageing.

Credence Table: A type of small table used for storingfood before serving; generally a semi-

circular table with a hinged top.

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Credenza: Normally a sideboard or buffet. In

office furniture, credenzas are ahorizontal filing cabinet, which are

often placed behind a desk.

Crest: This usually refers to the top rail of a

chair back, sofa back, etc.Crockets: A distinctive Gothic motif formed of

floral and leaf ornamentation. Primarilyused on spire and pinnacle sculpture.

Cross-Banding: A narrow band of veneer forming the

frame of a panel; the grain of the wood

is at right angles to the line of the frame.

Crossing: The area of intersection in a Cruciform

church, formed by joining the Nave,Transept & Chancel.

Crown Molding: Angled molding joining horizontal and

vertical surfaces in a clean and elegant

manner. Common uses include wall toceiling molding, fireplace mantles,

crowns or caps to furniture, and as

decorative wall shelving. Crown

molding requires complex compoundmiter and bevel cutting for installation.

Cupboard: A cabinet, box or closet with shelves

designed to hold cups, dishes or food.

Curio (Collectors

Cabinet):

A case piece featuring glassed in

shelves and doors for displaying

collectibles.

Cusp: Found within Tracery decoration toform the meeting point of foils.


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Cusped corner: An indented corner on case and

tabletops or other panels, created by the

intersection of two carved quarter roundcorners.

Cyma curve: A double curve in a simplified "s" form.top of page

Dado Joint: A rectangular groove across the width

of a board or plank fitting another piece

of wood to create additional structure

and support. Commonly used to jointshelving into the sides of cases.

Dado Rail: A wooden rail or molding that is fixed

horizontally along a wall, usually about

a third of the way up from the floor.Damp Fold: A sculpting technique in which the lines

are long and subtle, giving the featuredmaterial a look as though it was damp

and clinging to the figure.

Deboss: To depress a design in leather, paper,

wood, or composition board.

Dentils: Rectangular blocks equally spaced for

ornamentation in a cornice molding.

DeStijl: A 20th century style originating in theNetherlands. As with other Dutch

furniture of the period, destijl furniture

is characteristically simple and clean-lined.

Directoire: Furniture design popular during the era

of the French revolution, it bridges the

formal Louis xvi and the more reserved

empire style, most popular during thelate 1700's to early 1800's.

Distemper: Paints made by mixing pigment withwater and bound with casein, glue or

egg. Widely used before the arrival of

emulsion.

Distressed (or

Distressing):

A furniture trait where pieces arepurposely dented or otherwise marked

to render an antique or rustic


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appearance.

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Dog Tooth Molding: An ornamental feature in which pairs of

'tooth-like' pieces of wood or stone are

set to each other in diagonal rows.

Double-Doweled: A method of joining two pieces of woodwhich uses two dowel pins instead of

one to ensure no shifting

Dovetail: Joint construction made by cutting pins

in the shape of dovetails, which fit

between dovetails upon another piece.Commonly found in drawer

construction.

Dowel: A headless wooden pin used in furnitureconstruction.

Drake Foot: A carved three-toed foot. Also a "trifid

foot".

Dresser: A chest of drawers used to store clothes.

Drop Front: The hinged front of an upright desk thatdrops down to provide a surface for

writing.

Drop Handle: A pear-shaped handle made popular inthe late 17th century.

Drop Leaf: A dining or occasional table with hinged

leaves that can be lowered.

Drop Lid Desk: A desk with a hinged front that coversthe inner compartments.

Dry Brushing: A paint technique utilizing brushwork

over a glaze to create a cloudy effect.

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Duncan Phyfe: A furniture style popular in the late

1700's to early 1800's. Duncan Phyfe

pieces are characterized by feet thatgracefully curve outward on both tables

and sofas. Duncan Phyfe seating pieces

often have lyre-shaped backs, rolled top

rails and arms.


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Dutch Foot: A type of disk or pad foot used in either

varying forms on turned or cabriole

legs.

Dutch Renaissance: This style is square, solid and heavy,

with straight lines as a rule. Chairs arecharacterized by turned legs, straight

stretchers and straight low backs.Carvings are the main form of

decoration featuring foliated

ornamentation and scrollwork. Seats

were often covered in leather with largebrass nails. Oak is predominately used.

Most popular during the 1500's through

the 1600's.

Dutch Style: Early Flemish baroque furniture, dating

from the 17th century, was but a slightadaptation of the late renaissance style.

Typical are oak cupboards with four

doors and chairs with seats and backs ofvelvet or leather held in place by nails.

Most pieces are massive, solid

unpretentious pieces made of localwoods with turnings.

Dye Lot: Stains, finishes, and paints aremanufactured in batches referred to as

"lots." Each lot produces a specificamount of liquid product that is of

exactly the same color and patina. Eventhough the same ratio of components

may be combined to produce the final

solution, variations in components,temperature, mixing time, humidly, etc.

Play a factor. Therefore, it is advisable

to complete a project from the sameidentified dye lot if possible, or very

subtle variations in color may be

apparent.

Early American: American furniture design of the late

1600's to early 1700's (still populartoday), adapted from popular European

styles such as Jacobean and William and

marries. The look is characterized bystraight lines and minimal decoration.


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The style has merged into what is now

called colonial, normally featuring

elements of Queen Anne andChippendale design.

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Early English Style: The beginnings of Gothic in England

span from the final years of the twelfth

century through the first half of the

thirteenth. Cathedrals primarilyconstructed within this period are

Canterbury, Wells, Lincoln and

Salisbury. Within each of these,

excepting perhaps Salisbury, it is plainto recognize preceding Romanesque

forms and elements.

Early Renaissance: Early 1500's, the transitional period

between gothic arts and the classicalrevival. Characterized by arch form,

ornament and detail in style and

decoration, high relief carving withdiamond shapes and architectural

pilasters, and ornamented with olive,

laurel and acanthus leaves. Pieces

usually featured no hardware.

Ears: The protrusions on either side of aChippendale chair's crest rail.

Eastlake: Style designed by Charles Eastlake,

popular in England and America during

the late 1800's. Style was medieval and

featured gothic and Japaneseornamentations. Cherry and fruitwoods

were primarily used along with tile and

metal panel and eye-catching hardware

for decoration.

Ebonized: A painting effect where an object istreated with color to make it look like

ebony.

Eclectic: A style of decorating combining

furniture and accessories of variousstyles and periods.


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Egg & Dart: A classic design of alternating oval and

dart shapes, commonly applied to

cornices.

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Eggshell: An oil-based paint that has a low-sheensatin finish.

Eglomise: The decorative and exacting art of

reverse painting on glass, mainly related

to the Sheraton style.

Elizabethan: A large furniture style of severe form

that emerged during the reign ofElizabeth I in England during the latter

half of the 1500's. Elizabethan pieces

are characterized by heavy carving andmassive size.

Embossing: A technique to impress or stamp adesign onto a piece of furniture; mostly

used on wood pieces to resemble

carving.

Empire: A style inspired by the Napoleonicempire, which features heavy looking

classical designs and combines straight

lines and curves, sleigh beds are a good

example of this styling.

Emulsion: A water-based paint that is mostcommon on walls and ceilings.

Encoignure: An 18th-19th century casework piece

similar to a corner cabinet. Its front is

typically rounded or diagonal, and it

rests on three or four feet. Often, the topportion contains shelves in graduated

sizes.

End Matching: Two adjacent pieces of veneer, whichare joined end to end to form a

continuous pattern.

English Style: The period distinctions of Englishfurniture are somewhat indefinite owing

to the variety of labels according to

monarchs, designers, typical woods and


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external influences. Changes were

happening so rapidly that primarily the

type of wood used distinguished theboundaries of the English style.

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Entertainment

Center:

A piece of furniture designed to hold

entertainment equipment such as TV's

and stereo components.

Ergonomic: Term that relates to furniture design and

function for the human form; verycommonly found in home office

furnishings such ergonomic chairs for

example.

Escritoire: A cabinet with a fall front that lowers toform a writing surface.

Escutcheon: The shaped metal fitting/backing behinda drawer pull or surrounding a keyhole.

The term can also apply to a tiny plate

that hangs over a keyhole to stop draftsfrom coming in.

European Style: Sophisticated style with great attention

to detail and ornamentation.

Fall Front: The flap of a bureau or secrtaire that

pulls down to provide a writing surface.

Fan Carving: A carving composed of radiating lines

in a half-round or fan-shaped pattern.

Fan Vaulting: An intricate form of Tracery in whichthe ribs of a Vault arch out in a concave

fan pattern.

Faux: A simulation of something else. An

example of this would be faux marble,

which is a marble-like surface painted

onto walls or other surfaces (see trompel'oeil).

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Feather Banding: Two narrow bands of veneer in opposite

diagonals.


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Federal: Design period following the American

Revolution and running roughly through

the early 1800's. Federal stylesincorporate the neo-classical influences

of Sheraton and Hepplewhite including

straight and delicate lines, tapered legs,and contrasting veneers.

Ferrule: Normally a metal cap attached to the

end of a slender shaft for strength or to

prevent splitting.

Festoon: A curved garland of flowers or it can

also refer to a strange bird.

Fiberboard: A board made of compressed wood

fibers and glue.

Fiddle Back: A backsplat in the shape of a violin(fiddle) that is typically seen on Queen

Anne chairs.

Fielded Panel: A solid wood panel with molded or

beveled outside edges and a flat, raisedcenter section.

Figuring: A pattern made by the natural grain of

wood.

Filigree: A decorative ornamentation that is often

produced with fine wires of gold or

silver.

Fillet: Delicate adornment strips applied toshafts and archways along the moldings.

Filling: A step in the manufacturing finishing

process where the filling of natural

pores in wood allows the surface to

become smoother and more reflective.

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Finger Joint: A joint in which two pieces of wood are

cut in an elongated zigzag pattern andjoined glue.

Finial: A decorative detail that has carved or

shaped to ornament the top of an upright

piece such as a bedpost. Finials are


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commonly found in the opening of a

broken pediment or on the topping a

lamp. Common motifs include flames,urns, and pineapples.

Finnish Style: Finnish furniture designers used bentand laminated (layers of solid wood)

woods to create organic, humanisticforms and lightweight open shapes.

These designers were also the first to

experiment with tubular steel in

furniture design.

Fireplace Surround: Trim or decorative carving and

woodworking surrounding a fireplace;may include the mantel and areas

directly adjacent to the fireplace, above,

or towards either side.

Flamboyant Style: The closing period of French Gothicduring the late fourteenth and early

fifteenth centuries. A style characterized

by tracery designs that resemble upwardspiraling flames, dominant in the north

of France. A classic example of this

work is the north spire of Chartres,

which stands in evident contrast to theremainder of the cathedral, completed

two centuries before.

Flame Finial: A spiral twist ornament used as a

terminating motif. Usually on bonnet

tops atop urn-shaped finials.

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Flame Stitch: A wavy angular pattern that looks likethe shape of a flickering flame,

normally found on brocade fabrics.

Flare: The outward concave curve of a

furniture leg.

Flemish: Furniture produced by the craftsman of

Flanders, Belgium, which was moreinfluential that it was an actual period of

design. Generally, Flemish furniture is

associated with the Dutch renaissance


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and it differed in many respects due the

French influence. Flemish pieces are

recognized for elaborate and skilledcarving.

Fluting: Parallel concave grooves that commonlyused to ornament the surface of

columns, posts, or panels. May be handcarved on antique or reproduction

furniture, commonly made using a

router on modern works.

Flying Buttress: A masonry support branching from the

sturdy piers and vertical Standing

buttresses. Their role is to transfer thegreat weight of the vaulted roofs off to

this more solid support of the firmly set

abutments. In French

Foils: A small arc design used in Tracery,often utilized within Rose Windows.

Foliage: Leaves, as of a plant or tree.

Four Poster: A bed with posts tall enough to hold a

canopy. The original purpose includes a

fine insect netting to protect against

insect bites while sleeping during springand summer months. The concept

evolved to just a canopy for purelydecorative purposes.

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Frame: This usually refers to the boards that

support the seat of a chair.

French Classic: This furniture was more of an influencethat an actual style. All ornamentation

was classic and symmetrical and often

featured geometric marquetry. This

style was predominant during the mid tolate 1800's and was inspired by the

Italian imitation of antiquity.

French Empire: Style of the early 1800's that expressed

the imperial ambitions of Napoleoncreated at his command. Inspired by

classic Greek and roman design and is


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considered as grandiose yet dignified.

Motifs are symbolic of torches, roman

eagles, empire-wreaths, sphinx, lionsand the letter "n" (for napoleon of

course). Tops are of often of marble,

curving is minimized, and metal feet arecommon. Predominant woods used were

mahogany, rosewood and ebony.

French Polishing: Treating a wooden surface with French

polish to give it a highly reflective,

smooth finish.

French Provincial: Rustic versions of formal French

furnishings of the 1600's and 1700's,such as the Louis xiv and Louis xv

styles. Early French provincial pieces

were considered as peasant furniture.

French Regence: Popular in Europe during the early1700's. Departs in design from Louis

xiv pieces, while maintaining many of

the basic forms. Style generally featuresbeautiful curves and elaborate

decoration. This style introduced rococo

ornamentation and new pieces including

commodes, chiffoniers and secretaries.

French Renaissance: Style dating from the mid 1400's to theearly 1600's. Influenced by Italiandesign, although the pieces were smaller

in scale than furniture from the Italian

renaissance. Noted for elaborate andskilled carving, progresses in textile

manufacturing and the weaving of

tapestries. Oak is mainly used on earlierpieces and walnut in the later ones,

which are known for excessive

decoration.

Fresco: A durable painting technique for wallsand ceilings, created by blendingwatercolors directly into wet plaster.

The technique of blending wet plaster

with water based paint. As the plasterdries it becomes a lasting surface base.

The term applies to the technique as


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well as the painting itself.

Fretwork: An open or pierced woodcarving with

an oriental influence, primarily used as

a decorative element in Chippendale-

style furniture.top of page

Frieze: A decorated horizontal band attached or

painted along the top of a wall, usually

ornamented.

Full-Forward Arm: An arm extending continuously from

the back to the front of a piece offurniture.

Gadroon Molding: A rounded molding that is carved in

convex curves.

GainsboroughChair: A deep armchair with an upholstered

seat and back, padded open arms, and

carved decoration.

Gallery Rail: A small slender railing, usually brass,that borders a sideboard or table.

Gallery Top: A miniature railing placed along the

edge of a shelf or tabletop.

Gargoyle: From the French term gargouille,meaning throat. The word refers to

sound which water makes as it passesthrough the gullet. Originally, a

reference to the drains atop cathedralsthat were later carved into the form ofbeasts or animals.

Gateleg Table: A style of drop-leaf table with leaves

that are supported by extra legs that

swing out like gates.

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Gel Stain: is formulated to be a rapid drying,

controllable, multipurpose, gelled stain

primarily for use on difficult-to-stainsurfaces, such as composition or

fiberglass projects. Excellent for use on

fiberglass or plastic doors and trim. Gel


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Stain is the choice of the professional

and homeowner for the project with

special requirements.

Georgian: Elegant design of the 1700's, which is

heavier and more ornate than QueenAnne. Georgian features include

elaborately carved cabriole legs, balland claw feet, pierced backsplats and

ornate carving.

Gesso: A painted or gilded bas-relief plaster

decoration.

Gilding: A coating with a thin layer of gold or

gold-like substance.

Glaze: A coloring technique used in thefinishing process of furniture tohighlight the grain characteristics of

wood or to give a high sheen to leather.

Goose-Neck Arm: A chair with curved wooden arms

resembling a goose's neck.

Gothic Art: Seldom separated from the buildingcraft of the Cathedrals, the term is used

loosely to refer to religious European art

forms of the 12th through 16th

centuries. Other mediums utilizedextensively during this period, and

within similar manner, were Painting,Tapestry, Metalwork, Glasswork and

Manuscript Illumination.

Gothic Revival: Style influenced by gothic and medievalinfluences popular in the mid-1800s,

this style is characterized by lines

flowing up to a pointed arch or other

architectural features.

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Gothic: Pieces from this period (late 1100's toearly 1500's) were straight, large and

heavy. Many of these pieces were

produced in monasteries, whichexplains the ornamental carvings of

canonical figures. This period produced


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trestle tables, cupboards and stools. Oak

and pine were the primary woods of

choice.

Gouache: An opaque water-based paint in which

the pigments are bound with glue.

Grain: The direction of the fibers in wood. Flat

grain wood is sawed perpendicular to

the growth rings. Edge grain wood has

been sawed parallel to the growth rings.

Grand Rapids Style: Style inspired by several furniturefactories in Grand Rapid Michigan at

the turn of the 20th

century, and is still

popular today. These factories produced

pieces that were usually in oak, and

finished in a light color. This style isproduced in many styles, with the most

popular being the oak pedestal table.

Greek Style: Dating from the 9th century B.C. withEgyptian roots. Characterized by use of

bronze animal legs, gilding, encrusted

jewels and stones. Used native woodssuch as olive, yew and cedar. Features

include sweeping curves on legs and

backs, and centers on couches, chairs,

stools, tables, chests and boxes. Usuallynot highly decorated.

Grisaille: A stained glass window incorporating

muted tones as opposed to bright colors.

Groined Vault: A rib-less vault formed by the meeting

of a pair of equal barrel vaults at right

angle to each other.

Grotesques: A class of decorative sculpture forms

often found in or on Gothic structures.A term used broadly for gargoyles,

although traditionally a gargoyle serves

as a drainage spout for rainwater, whilea grotesque may function solely as

decoration.


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Gueridon: A small rounded topped table or stand,

elaborately carved, usually with three

legs.

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Hammer Beams: Right-angled support beams projectingfrom wall tops to brace wooden roofs.

Hand Distressing: Creating a marred surface, lending an

aged look to furniture. Similar to aging

or distressing a piece.

Hardwood: Wood derived from trees such as oak,

beech, maple, mahogany, and walnut.Hardwood is common for use in

furniture and finish carpentry, while soft

woods such as pine and spruce arecommon in construction.

Harvest Table: A narrow rectangular table that hashinged drop leaves, this design takes up

very little space and offers a nice

amount of surface area when the leavesare up.

Headboard: An upright structure rising above the

mattress at the head of the bed.

Hepplewhite: A neo-classic furniture style that

followed Chippendale from the late

1700's to about 1820. It overlaps withSheraton styles and shares similarelements of restrained design, tapered

legs and classical ornamentation like

urns and shields.

Highboy: Simply a tall chest of drawers. The stylewas developed in the 1700's and is

usually composed of a base and a top

section with drawers, which is often

topped with a decorative brokenpediment crown. The name comes from

the French "haut bois" which means

"high wood".

Highlighting: A color-removal technique in thefinishing process that highlights natural

grain characteristics and creates a


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feeling of depth.

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Hinge: Flexible joint of metal, wood, or other

material allowing two or more ajoining

sections to bend at a point within aspecific radius.

Hinge, Ball Tip: An exposed tip of the pin of a butt hinge

that is shaped like a ball.

Hinge, Barrel: The part of butt hinge where the two

halves come together and are joined

with a pin.

Hinge, Butt: A hinge composed of two platesattached to abutting surfaces of a door

and cabinet and joined by a pin.

Hinge, Clip On: A concealed hinge that allows you to

attached the two parts of the hinge

together by simply snapping themtogether. Makes finishing the doors a

breeze!

Hinge, Concealed: This refers to any hinge that does not

show from the outside of the cabinet.

Hinge, Cup: This refers to the door portion of aconcealed hinge (such as the Blum

hinges) that requires a hole to be drilled

in the back of the door. The cup portion

of the hinge is inserted into this hole.

Hinge, Degree of

Opening:

This refers to how far or to what angle adoor will open. Some hinges will allowthe doors to open farther allowing for

better access to the contents of the

cabinet.

Hinge, 270 Degree: This refer to a hinge that allows the doora full movement of 270 degrees which

allows it to open all the way to the

outside side of the cabinet wall. Thiscan only be achieved on a frameless full

overlay cabinet design.

Hinge, European: Frameless cabinets which use a


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concealed hinge. Hinges that are

concealed and which use a hole bored

into the back of the door.

Hinge, Exposed: Hinges that show on the outside of the

cabinet. Hinges that are not concealedor hidden.

Hinge, Face Frame: A cabinet is in essence a box. A face

frame is a narrow piece of wood,

usually about 2" wide that is attached tothe front of this box, framing the

opening where the doors go.

Hinge, Finial Tip: An exposed tip of the pin of a butt hinge

that has a fancy turned shape.

Hinge, Frameless: A frameless cabinet is one that does nothave a face frame. A frameless cabinetis made like a simple four sided box.

This is sometimes called European

style.

Hinge, Free

Swinging:

This means the hinge can move freelyalong its path from open to closed.

There is no sort of catch feature to keep

the door shut.

Hinge, Fully

Concealed:

Will not show at all from the outside of

the cabinet.

Hinge, Full Overlay: In frameless cabinet construction thebox is typically made from " thickstock. A full overlay will cover the

complete front edge or just slightly less

than this stock. A full overlay hinge istypically used on the outsides or ends of

a cabinet.

Hinge, Half

Overlay:

In frameless cabinet construction the

box is typically made from 3/4 inch

thick stock. A half overlay is commonlyused in the middle of a run of cabinets

where the doors share a common single

partition wall. This hinge will allow thedoor to cover up half of the partition

wall (or approximately 3/8"). Not to be

confused with 1/2 inch overlay which


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will allow a door to cover up the cabinet

or face frame by 1/2 inch.

Hinge, Inset: A door that sits within the cabinet

opening such that the front face of the

door is flush with the front of thecabinet or face frame.

Hinge, 3/8" Inset: This is a door that has a 3/8" x 3/8"

rabbet cut all the way around the door

on the back edge. This cut allows halfthe thickness of the door to go back into

the cabinet and leaves the front half of

the door overlaying the cabinet or face

frame. It is also sometimes called alipped door.

Hinge, Knife: Shaped like scissors. One half of hingemounts to top edge (or bottom edge) of

door. Other half mounts to horizontalcabinet member directly above (and

below) door.

Hinge, Lipped: This is a door that has a rabbet cut all

the way around the door on the backedge. This cut allows part of the door to

go back into the cabinet and leaves the

remaining part overlaying the cabinet or

face frame.

Hinge, Mounting

Plate:

The part of a concealed European stylehinge (such as a Blum hinge) that

mounts on to the cabinet or face frame.

Hinge, No-Mortise: A style of hinge that can be mounted

directed to the cabinet and the door

without any mortises or special cutsbeing made into the wood surfaces.

Hinge, Overlay: A door which sit in front of the cabinetand covers or overlays a portion of the

cabinet or face frame.

Hinge, Pin: A hinge that pivots on a single point.

Offers a very low profile as only thepivoting knuckle is visible from the

outside of the cabinet.

Hinge, Pivot: A concealed hinge for inset doors which


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uses a bushing placed into the horizontal

cabinet members above and below the

door, with a pin coming down from thehinge into the bushing.

Hinge, ReverseBevel: A door edge that is angled backwardsallowing the door edge to serve as the

pull. This gives a much simpler, cleanerlooking design of cabinets.

Hinge, Self Closing: This type hinge will have a designfeature to help pull the door shut and

keep it closed when the door is brought

within a few inches of being closed.

Sometimes called snap-closing.

Hinge, Semi-

Concealed:

This term is applied to a hinge where

some of hinge shows on the outside ofthe cabinet, but a portion of it is hidden

behind the door.

Hinge, Slip On: A concealed type hinge where the twoparts of the hinge are fastened together

by slipping one half on the other and

then tightening a screw.

Hinge, Snap

Closing:

This type of hinge will have a design

feature to help pull the door in and keepit shut when the door is brought within a

few inches of being closed. Sometimescalled self-closing.

Hinge, Soss: A specialty concealed hinge used for

inset doors. Requires mortises into thedoor and cabinet for the bodies of both

hinge halves.

Hinge, Surface

Mounted:

A hinge that does not need a hole or

mortise drilled in the door or cabinet in

order to mount it. In a concealed hingeit simple mounts with screw. In an

exposed hinge it also means the entire

hinge will show on the outside of thedoor and cabinet.

Hinge, Wrap

Around:

A style of hinge where the plates of the

hinge are formed around the back edge

of the door and/or the face frame. A


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partial wrap around hinge will wrap

around the door and have a plain flat

leaf for the cabinet so it can be used ona frameless cabinet. A full back-to-back

wrap around hinge with wrap around on

both halves of the hinge so it can beused on a face frame cabinet.

Hinge, Zero

Clearance:

A hinge that allows unobstructed access

for pullout shelves or drawer when a

door is open to 90 degrees or more. This

means that the door will not protrudeinto the area of the cabinet opening

when open. This is only possible in a

full overlay door layout.

Hitchcock Chair: A black-painted/finished chair with gold

powdered stenciling of fruit and flowerson the backrest, named after its designer

(Lambert Hitchcock). Heavily

influenced by Sheraton designs.

Hitchcock Style: Style created by Lambert Hitchcock ofConnecticut from the early to mid

1800's. Although most famous for the

design of Hitchcock chairs, Lambert

also produced stools, settees, rockers,cabinets and cradles. The Hitchcock

chair is still reproduced to this day.

Hock Leg: A cabriole leg having a broken curve on

the inner side of the knee.

Hoop Back Chair: Hepplewhite or Queen Anne chair with

a top rail curving directly into its arms.

Hue: A color tone such as red, yellow, blue,etc.

Hunt Board: Designed to be light and portable so itcould be moved outdoors. Originally

used for serving food and drinks after a

hunt.

Husks: Refers to the stringing of the outercoverings of various fruits or

vegetables, such as corn.

Hutch: Enclosed cupboard with shelves resting


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on a solid base such as buffet or desk.

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Iconography: Religious imagery painted upon wooden

panels. The term is also used to define

the study of symbolism as it relates tothe subject of a work of art.

Impasto: A painting technique where the material

is applied in thick layers to wooden

panels or canvas. This method creates a

textured effect.

Inlay: Decorative patterns created with piecesof different woods or other materials,

which have been set into the surface of

wood furniture.Inset Tile: A tile with a different design than the

surrounding body of tiles.

Intaglio: A technique of stylized engraving,which is carved beneath the surface

layer of a hard material, often stone or

metal.

Intarsia: A technique of sinking a decorative

design across an entire surface.Essentially a Mosaic inlaid within a

wooden panel, table or chest. Elements

may include ivory or precious stone.

International Style: Functional modern furniture styledeveloped in Europe during the 1920's

and 1930's. The most important origin

of this style was Germany's Bauhaus

school. Simple lines and an absence ofdecoration are hallmarks of this design.

Popular materials used included chrome

and glass.

Italian Provincial: Loose term applied to furniture of the

Italian provinces made during the 1700'sto mid 1800's. These pieces, although

more rustic, copied the elaborate

furniture styles of Milan, Venice, Romeand Florence. Later pieces (late Italian

provincial) were heavily influenced by


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French design. The pieces feature

simplified lines and lack ornate

decorations. Very few of these piecesare reproduced today.

Italian Renaissance: Popular through the 1400's to 1600's.This style displays classical inspiration

and features lavish carving, marquetry,inlay and classical figures. Pieces were

generally straight and squared or

rectangular. Walnut was the primary

wood of choice.

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Jacobean: Early 1600's English furniture style with

a medieval appearance and dark finish.

Furniture from this period can be verysimple or covered with carvings.

Jamb: The vertical side masonry of a door,

window or portal entranceway, often aplace for the setting of statuary.

Japanese Style: Japanese domestic usage required little

furniture. Chests and cupboards were

built in with sliding doors. Usually

finished with highly polished lacquerflecked with gold and decorated with

fine-scaled flower, animal andlandscape motives. Thin mats made ofrice straw covered the floors and were

used for sitting. Cloth cushions were

also used, as were small tables of wood

and lacquer. The folding screen was anindispensable adjunct to the other

furnishings as it could be moved to

change the entire aspect of the room.

Japanese furniture forms have changedvery little for centuries.

Japanning: A technique of painting that requires

several coats of heat-hardened lacquer,

commonly used in creating Chinoiseriedesigns.

Keeled: A sharp edge often found on the corner

of cabriole legs, the term "keeled" is


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used because it resembles the keel of a

boat.

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Kiln Dried: Wood that has dried by a means of

controlled heat and humidity in kilns orovens to specific ranges of moisture

content.

Knee: Refers to the convex or rounded out

area at the top of a cabriole leg.

Kneehole Desk: A desk with a recessed central

cupboard.

Knot: In wood, the area where a branch or thelimb of a tree appears on the face or

edge of a piece, such as knotscommonly found in knotty pine

furniture.

Lacquer: A hard, protective artificial liquid that isapplied as a topcoat to furniture.

Lacquer provides a plastic like

protection and high gloss shine. Acommon finish from the 1930's forward

to modern times. True antique furniture

lovers avoid Lacquer finishes, and

maintain support of natural shellac andtungoil varnish. Lacquer finishes tend to

deteriorate over time resulting in acracked or "crazed" appearance.

Ladder-Back: A country style chair having a ladder

effect produced by the use of a series ofhorizontal back rails in place of a splat.

Lady Chapel: The Lady Chapel will be found in all the

Notre Dames, as well as many of the

Great Gothic Cathedrals. Usually

located behind the Sanctuary, thesespaces are dedicated to - sometimesset

asidefor the use of - the Blessed Virgin.

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Lambrequin: A cornice that completely frames a

window.


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Laminate: Any thin material such as wood or

plastic that is glued to the exterior of a

cabinet or other surface.

Lancet Window: A tall, narrow window that terminates in

a pointed apex.

Lantern Tower: An extended tower or watch house

illuminated in its uppermost windows.

Lap: A joint of two pieces lapping over one

another.

Latin Cross: A cross form which contains one arm

that is longer than the other three,traditionally the base arm. This is the

accepted manner of the Crucifixion

cross, based upon the upright beam andcrossbar commonly used by the Romansfor execution. As a central Christian

symbol, this motif is utilized in many

forms, from literal sculpted figures ofthe Martyrdom to Cruciform floor plans

of churches and cathedrals.

Lattice: Crossed wood, iron plate bars, etc.

Library Storage: Drawers, trays, cabinets or racks

designed to store cassettes, CD's or

videotapes. They often roll or slide outfor easy accessibility.

Lierne Vaulting: Vaults containing small decorative ribwork not originating from the corners;

primarily found in England.

Lifestyle: A term to describe an individual's

expression of life. Lifestyle furniturepieces tend to be casual in nature and

simple in design.

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Lime wash: A finish that is made of slaked lime and

water, which is used for whitening

outside walls.

Liming: A technique of using liming wax tostain woods a whitish color.


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Linen Fold

Paneling:

A decorative panel that has molded or

carved to look like folded cloth.

Lingerie Chest: A tall narrow seven-drawer chest

normally used for storing

undergarments and lingerie.

Lion's Paw Foot: Furniture foot portraying a Lion's paw

Lip mold: The molded edge on a drawer or door

front extending with a rabbet to cover

the joint between the front and case

structure.

Loper: A pullout arm used to support thehinged fall of a bureau.

Louis XIII: Popular during the early 1600's. This

style is mostly straight lined andsquared. Prominent features of this

design include twisted columns, turnedbalusters and spiraled legs. Favored

decorations include marquetry, inlays,

incrustation and elaborate reliefcarvings. Predominant woods used are

walnut, ebony and oak.

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Louis XIV, XV and

XVI:

Classic French furniture designs ranging

from the mid 1600's to the late 1700's.

These styles grew to be simpler andmore refined. Louis xiv style is largerand more ornate. Louis xv is simpler

and features curved lines and some

ornamentation. Louis xvi featuresgeometric shapes, straight lines and

minimal ornamentation.

Louvered Doors: Doors that are made up of horizontal

wooden slats.

Lowboy: A short chest or table with drawers,

normally set on short legs.

Lyre Back: A chair with a back resembling a harp.

Lyre Motif: Representations of a harp-likeinstrument used on many French and

English designs. The lyre is used


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extensively in the chair backs and table

supports of Duncan Phyfe.

Maesta: Artwork or sculpture, which portrays

the Madonna and the Christ child upon

a throne, usually attended by angels.top of page

Mandorla: The artistic interpretation of a halo or

aura surrounding the head of holy

figures. An almond shaped motif often

used in imagery of the Virgin, Christ orparticular saints. Symbolically, the

Mandorla has great significance within

Medieval Christianity, and is related to

the Vesica Pisces. The space, which

represents the shape of a Mandorla, isthe overlapping segment of two

intersecting circles. In Christian context,the place where Heaven and Earth join

as one, perhaps even the doorway

between the two. Many cathedral portalsfeature Christ or the Virgin enthroned

within a Mandorla frame.

Mannerism: A prevalent style of art during the later

half of the sixteenth century,

characterized by a self-awareperspective with dominant, oftendisturbing, themes or moods. With roots

in earlier artistic schools, Mannerist

painters often projected themselves asopposition to the idealistic artists of the

High Renaissance.

Mantel: The shelf above a fireplace. The term is

also commonly used to refer to the

decorative trim around a fireplaceopening known as a fireplace surround.

Marbleizing (or

Marbling):

False appearance of marble as a

decorative painting surface. Common

on columns and tabletops as analternative to expensive stonework.

Marlborough foot: A square block foot under a straight or

only slightly tapered Chippendale leg.


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Marlborough Legs: Heavy strait legs used in Chippendale

designs and others.

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Marquetry: Decorative patterns made of inlays,

usually applied to veneered surfaces.

Married: A term referring to an item of furniturethat has been made up from two or more

associated pieces, usually from the same

period/style. In addition, a term for

upholstered furniture that is normallymanufactured in a particular fabric or

leather (opposed to a custom or special

order covering).

Match Boarding: Form of cladding where long woodenboards are held together with tongue-and-groove joints.

Matte Finish: A finish that is more flat than shiny.

MDF: Medium density fiberboard; made from

compressed particles of wood and used

in the construction of furniture.Described as "cardboard" in the

furniture business, this inexpensive

environmentally friendly material

allows for cost savings and massproduction. Many moldings and fixtures

are now available in MDF, providing acheap alternative to wood for painted

applications. MDF does not acceptstains or fine finishes.

Mediterranean: This style originated in counties of the

north Mediterranean Sea, such as Spain,

Greece and Italy. Mediterranean has

been popular since the 1500's and isoften referred to today as Spanish

modern. Mediterranean furniture ranges

from simply functional to extremelyformal, characterized by short and squat

with ornately turned legs and feet. The

hardware used is usually heavy andoften burnished. Primary woods used

include pecan, chestnut, mahogany and


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walnut. Mediterranean can often mix

with contemporary, country and

provincial pieces.

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Mission (or Mission

Style):

A heavy, normally dark finished oakstyle with straight rectangular lines

originally popular in the early 1900's.

This style grew out of the English arts

and crafts movement and was a directreaction against the ornate Victorian

furniture styles of that time.

Miter Joint (or

Mitered Corner):

A diagonal joint formed at the

intersection of two pieces of wood. For

example, the joint found at the side and

head casing of a door opening is madeat a 45-degree angle.

Modern (Modern or

Modernist):

A clean streamlined furniture style of

20th century with roots in the GermanBauhaus School of design and

Scandinavian design. Sometimes

referred to as international style.

Molding: Ornamental shaped strips that are

applied to and project from a surface.Also considered Carved contours given

to Piers and columns to exploit opticaleffects of light.

Monochrome: A single hue.

Mortise & Tenon: A slot cut into a piece of wood to

receive a tenon of another piece ofwood to form a joint.

Mosaic Tiles: Colorful natural stone tiles, usually sold

in squares.

Motif: A decorative theme, component orelement.

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Mule Chest: A chest with drawers in the base, the

forerunner of the chest-of-drawers.

Mullion: The vertical wood between window


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frames.

Muntons(Muntins,

Muttons or

Mutons):

Dividers over glass panels in windows

and china cabinets.

Nailheads: Decorative brass nails attaching fabricor leather to a frame, thereby outlining

its design elements. Nailheads are often

applied the arms and backs of

upholstered pieces such as sofas.

Natural Finish: A transparent finish that does notseriously alter the original grain or color

of the natural wood. Natural finish

applications are commonly oils,

varnishes, and or similar materials.

Neo-Classic (or

Neoclassicism,

Neoclassical Style):

A design style that is elegant andsimple, with motifs borrowed from

ancient Rome and Greece. This style

was widely popular during late 1700'sthrough the 1800's and relates to the

Sheraton, Hepplewhite, empire and

federal periods.

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Neo-Gothic: Revivals of aspects of gothic detailing,

which took place in the 1700's and1800's. These aspects included gothic

arches and tracery applied to rococofurniture. Later neo-gothic styles

applied gothic ornamentation toneoclassical forms.

Nesting Tables: Tables of varying sizes stored one under

the other, normally consisting of a set of

three.

Net Vault: A vault constructed of intersecting ribs

that give the impression of a web or net.

Neutral Color: Colors such as white, black, gray andtan that easily blend with other colors.

Niche: A recess in a wall for displaying a

sculpture or other accessory.

Night Stand: A small, low table or cabinet with


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drawers that sits by a bed.

Occasional Table: General term for small pieces of

furniture such as coffee and end tables.

Oculus: A circular or eye shaped window.

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Ogee Arches: An arch formed by the meeting of two

double curves forming a long S shape; adefinitive design of the Gothic era.

Ogee Bracket Foot: A foot commonly used on Chippendale

case pieces, which features a double-

curved leg that wraps around two sides

of the piece.

Ogee: A classical molding with a double curveor cyma profile, as in an ogee bracketfoot.

Onlay: Decorative trip applied to the surface of

a piece, also known as Overlay or

Appliqu.

Ottoman: A low upholstered footstool or seatwithout arms or back.

Ottonian Art: A German art form which preceded the

Romanesque, and followed theCarolingian, in which can be seen some

early beginnings of forms andinnovations what would later be

fundamental to Gothic structures. Aprimary feature of some Ottonianchurches was the use of systematic pier

and column support within the Nave.

Oval Back: The shape of a chair back that is often

associated with Hepplewhite designs.

Overlay: A decorative trim piece applied to a flatsurface, also known as Onlay or

Appliqu.

Oxbow: The opposite of a serpentine-curve, theysomewhat resemble the curve of an

oxbow and are used on the fronts of

case pieces.


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Pad foot: The foot flares into a pad foot that is

round in shape; also called a clubfoot.

(See also Dutch foot)

Painterly Form: A style distinctly different from Linear,emphasizing shape and color over line.

Made popular by artists such as Titian,

Painterly works are found in several of

the later Gothic cathedrals.

Panel: Normally a thin flat piece of wood orsimilar material, framed by rails and

stiles as in a door, or fitted into grooves

of a thicker material with molded edges

for a decorative wall treatment.

Parquetry: Furniture inlaid with geometricaldesigns similar to parquet floors.

Parrot back: The space on either side of the splat on

a Queen Anne chair that resembles a

parrot in form.

Pastel: A light, soft color.

Paterae: A round or oval shaped disk, often

enriched with ornament.

Patina: A luster or sheen that develops with useover time, usually associated with fine

antiques, vintage furniture and leather.

Pattern Repeat: The interval between the repetitions ofthe same pattern.

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Pattern: The decorative or ornamental design of

a fabric, veneers, etc.

Pedestal Desk: A flat desk, usually with a leather top,that stands on two banks of drawers.

Pedestal Table: A table that is supported by a single

center base or column. Pedestals may be

sided (octagon, hexagonal, etc) or round

to match the tabletop. Fluting, carving,or turnings are common decorations for


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pedestals. Pedestal bases often display

scrollwork, paw, or ball-in-claw feet.

Pedestal: The supporting base for a table, vase,

sculpture, etc.

Pediment: An ornamental treatment adorning thetop of doors, case pieces, etc. Usually in

the shape of a triangle, segmental,

scroll, and or broken forms. Common to

highboys, curio cabinets, grandfatherclocks, etc.

Pegged Furniture: Early joined furniture constructed by a

system of slots known as a mortis, and

tenons. Tenons are inserted into mortis

slots to form a tight and sturdy joint, but

such joins may easily separate. Prior tothe invention of and common

production of glue, a peg driven throughthe entire joint provided the necessary

structure to hold a piece together. True

pegged furniture requires absolutely noglue and still last through generations

without fail. Most modern pegs are for

decorative purposes only, unless on an

authentic reproduction piece.

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Pembroke Table: A drop leaf table with leaves that almostdrop to the floor.

Pencil-Post Bed: A bed with four slender posts generallyrising from six to eight feet in height.

The design is normally very simple with

straight lines. These beds can be usedalone or with a canopy.

Pendant: An ornamental hanging object, usually aturning.

Penetrating Stain: is formulated to be a fast drying,

penetrating, quickly applied, interior

wood stain. Excellent for use on newcabinets, woodwork, trim, doors and

furniture. Penetrating Stain is the choice

of painting contractors and professional


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ornamented edging resembling a

crimped piecrust.

Piecrust Top: The edges of the top curve in and out

like that edges of a pie. This is a

complex and time-consuming processoffering an elegant beauty and appeal to

a piece.

Pier: Without piers, there would be no Great

Cathedrals. The solid standing piersserve as the main support to the heavy

strain of the Gothic's' vertical

aspirations. The piers take on many

column shapes (rounded, cross andrectangular) but will also take the form

of a segment of wall. The term derives

from theNormanFrench

Piercing: A cutout or carved decorative detailseen in chair splats and other furniture

originating from the 1700's.

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Pieta: Artwork or sculpture that portrays the

Virgin Mary cradling the lifeless body

of Christ upon her lap.

Pilaster: A half-round or thin rectangular columnsuperimposed over a vertical surface.

Pineapple: A carving detail commonly used on19th century furniture (and

reproductions) as a symbol of

hospitality.

Pinnacle: A vertical ornament forming the spire ofa turret.

Platform Base: Three, or four, cornered flat table bases

supporting a central pedestal andstanding on scrolled or paw feet.

Platform Bed: A bed whose base consists of a raised,

flat horizontal surface meant to supporta mattress.

Plinth Block: Block of wood that rests against floor or

base molding used to support a column


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or molding.

Plinth: The base of a chest or other furniture

that rests on the floor, opposed to sitting

on legs.

Polychrome: A painted finish applied mostly tosculpture work, consisting of multiple

combinations of color. Popular during

the late nineteenth century.

Portico: A ceilinged entranceway to a church,

often bordered by columned masonry.

Predella: A series of small images or carvings atthe base of an altarpiece.

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Primary Colors: Three colors; red, yellow, and blue.

Provincial: Furniture from the hinterlands inspiredby designs from the major centers of a

country, which have been adapted to

local tastes, materials and ways ofliving.

Pull: Decorative and functional object

attached to a drawer or door to allow

easy grip for opening and closing.

Quadratura: An intended architectural illusion used

to create the sense of a larger room.

Quadripartite

Vault:

A four-sectioned vault, divided bydiagonal, transverse ribs.

Quatrefoil: An ornamental figure, which is divided

into four foils, leaves or lobes.

Queen Anne: The major furniture style/period of the

1700's, which is noted for being rich

and innovative in design. This design iselegant and characterized by graceful

curved lines such as cabriole legs and

broken scroll pediments.

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Rabbet Joint: A joint formed by fitting together

boards into which rectangular grooves
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glossary of wooden work

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