The furniture collectors' glossary

EX LIBRIS

Cooper Union Museum
for the Arts of Decoration

GIVEN BY

the author

IN

1914

THE

FURNITURE COLLECTORS'

GLOSSARY

THE WALPOLE SOCIETY

THE

FURNITURE COLLECTORS'

GLOSSARY

BY

LUKE VINCENT LOCKWOOD

uuA>e s~^*s c»e <«r

NEW YORK

PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY

M C M X I I I

COPYRIGHT

MAY, 1913

BY

THE WALPOLE SOCIETY

n

THE WALPOLE SOCIETY

Edwin A. Barber
Francis H. Bigelow
Dwight Blaney
Richard A. Canfield
Thomas B. Clarke
George M. Curtis
John Cotton Dana
H. W. Erving
Harry Harkness Flagler
Hollis French
Norman M. Isham
Harry Watson Kent
Luke Vincent Lockwood
George S. Palmer
Arthur Jeffrey Parsons
Marsden J. Perry
Albert Hastings Pitkin
Charles A. Platt
Frederick B. Pratt
Charles H. Tyler
Theodore S. Woolsey
George Parker Winship

6?Q\^- \'l*

PREFACE

THE membership of the Walpole Society comprises collectors of
various kinds of objects of art, chiefly of American workman-
ship, paintings, furniture, silver and ceramics. Being desirous of aiding
one another in these pursuits, certain of the members have prepared a
series of glossaries of terms used in collecting, actuated, also, by the
belief that such works would fill a real need, as found not only by
themselves, but by the fraternity of collectors at large.

The present volume is compiled with the idea of bringing together
in convenient form the words used in the Cabinetmaker's Art. There
are a number of words not heretofore to be found in any dictionary but
which are used among collectors. Architectural words are defined in
their furniture sense and are illustrated from actual pieces of furni-
ture or from books by the early cabinetmakers.

A glossary of terms for the collector of furniture at first thought
might seem to be unnecessary, since, as the captious might contend,
the dictionaries ought to give all of the words here brought together,
and more too. So they do, no doubt, but not in compact form with
a view to the vagaries of the peculiar genus collector; nor classified,
nor yet with cross-references — important consideration, very, where
niceties of terms are concerned, and exact differentiations. For him
who loves such items this book is intended, the kind of person referred
to by that distinguished gentleman and collector, from whom the Wal-
pole Society takes its name, in his Preface to the " Anecdotes of Painting

vii

PREFACE

in England": "From the antiquarian I expect greater thanks; he is
more cheaply pleased than a common reader: the one demands to be
diverted, at least instructed — the other requires only to be informed."

via

GLOSSARY

GLOSSARY

Abacus. — The uppermost member Acroterium. — Continued.

of a capital. of the lower corners of a pedi-

ment to hold a statue or orna-

Acanthus. — An ornament which
conventionalizes the leaf of the

acanthus spinosus or acanthus
mollis.
Acroterium. — A small pedestal
placed on the apex or at each

ment. Also sometimes used
to denote the ornament.

Adam, Robert. — An architect
and designer but not a cabinet-
maker. His style was neo-
. classic. His influence was
very marked on the furniture
of England from 1760-80.
See Style.

Almery. — See Cupboard.

Ambry. — See Cupboard-Almery.

Andiron. — Metal utensils for use
in fireplaces to hold burning
logs. Called also fire-irons.

Angel-Bed. — See Bedstead.

Angular Dutch Foot. — See
Foot.

GLOS

Annulet. — A narrow flat
moulding encircling a column.
Called also a fillet or a listel.

Anthemion. — A flat or low re-
lief decorative group of flower

or leaf forms, often called
honeysuckle ornament.

Applied. — Attached to and not a
part of the surface. Applique.

Applique. — A decorative orna-
ment applied to an object or
structure.

Arabesque. — A decorative scroll
work in geometrical design and

frequently consisting of fanciful
figures, flowers and foliage.

Arcature. — A small arcade
formed by a series of little
arches. It may be blind or
open.

Arch. — A real or apparent struc-
tural member disposed verti-
cally in the form of some curve
to span an opening or recess.

SARY

Arch. — Continued.

The inner line or surface of
the arch is called the intrados;
the outer, the extrados.
Flat. — An arch hav-
ing a horizontal
intrados.
Ogee. — An arch each side of
which is com-
posed of an ogee
curve meeting at
the top in an
acute angle.
Pointed. — An arch in
which two curves
meet at the crown
at an angle.
Round. — An arch
having a semicir-
cular intrados.
Archivolt. — The mouldings on
the vertical outer face of the
arch ring.
Armoire. — See Cupboard.
Astragal. — A half round mould-
ing; a small torus. See
Moulding.
Atlantes. — Figures of men used
in place of columns or pilasters
to support an entablature.
Telamones, see also Caryat-
ides.

B

Bahut. — See Chest.

Bail. — The loop or ring of a

handle.
Baldachin. — A canopy.
Ball Foot. — See Foot.
Baluster. — A short pillar.

Banister. — A colloquial name
for a slender baluster.
Balustrade. — A series of balus-
ters supporting a rail.
Bandy Leg. — See Leg.
Banister. — See Baluster.
Baroque. — A term of reproach
applied to anything excessive,
extravagant or in bad taste.
Base. — The division of the column
on which the shaft stands. It
generally includes the plinth
and the base mouldings.
Basin Stand. — See Stand.
Bead. — See Moulding, Astragal.
Beaufatt. — See Cupboard.
Bedstead. — The frame of a bed.
This includes the posts and
head and foot boards if any.
Angel-Bed. — An open bedstead

without posts.
Claw and Ball Foot. — A bed-
stead, the posts of which ter-

Bedstead. — Continued.

minate in an animal's or
bird's claw grasping a ball.

Cupboard. — A bedstead which
folds against the wall when
not in use.

Field. — A bedstead with rather
low posts and curved tester.
Sometimes called tent bed-
stead.

French. — A bedstead with roll
ends and without posts,
sometimes called sleigh bed.

Half Headed. — A bedstead with
short posts and without tester.

Oak. — 17th century or earlier
four-post bedstead of oak.
Usually with head board
and wooden tester top,
carved or paneled.

Tent. — Same as Field.

Tester Top. — A bedstead hav-
ing a tester.

Trundle. — A small bedstead on
wheels or castors intended to
roll under a larger bedstead
when not in use.
Bench. — See Settle and form.
Bergere. — See Chair.

GLOSSARY

Bevel. — The inclination of one
surface to another of the same
body. Cant.
Bible Box. — See Box.
Bilection Moulding. — See

Moulding.
Block Front.

Curved. — A surface as the front
of a desk or chest of
drawers cut in block form,

raised and depressed, the
edges of the blocks being
curved.
Square. — A surface as of the
front of a desk or chest of
drawers cut in block form,

r~

"n

raised and depressed, the
edges of the blocks being
square or nearly so.

Bombe. — See Chest of Drawers.

Bonnet. — The top section of the
case of a tall clock.

Bonnet Top. — An inclosed scroll

Bookcase. — A piece of furniture
in one or two carcasses fitted
with shelves to hold books.

Boss. — A protuberant ornament.

Nail Head. — An applied orna-

ment, square, with all four

sides chamfered to a point.

Rectangular. — A boss rectan-

gular in shape having all
four sides chamfered.
Split Spindle. — A spindle split

top. It is also used to denote
the top of any piece which is
inclosed.

longitudinally and applied
to a surface.
Turtle Back. — An oval boss ap-

^

plied to the surface as an
ornament.

GLOS

Box. — A case made of wood or

other substances, made to hold

small articles.

Bible. — A box, usually of oak,

used as a receptacle for

books and papers.

Casket. — A small box intended

to hold valuables.
Desk. — A box similar to a Bible
box, sometimes fitted with
pigeonholes and compart-
ments.
Knife. — A form of box, the in-
side of which is covered and
pierced in shapes to hold in
an upright position knives,
forks and spoons.
Bracket. — A projecting support,
the outer edges of which usu-
ally form a right angle; also
used to denote the ornament
sometimes found at the angle

SARY

Bracket. — Continued.

formed by the leg and rail of a
chair.

Bracket Foot. — See Foot.

Brasses. — See Handles.

Broken Pediment. — See Pedi-
ment.

Buffet. — See Cupboard.

Buhl. — See Inlay.

Bulbous. — In bulb form. Said
of turned work.

Bureau. — Used in the United
States synonymously with chest
of drawers.

Bureau. — See Desk.

Bureau Chamber Table. — See
Desk, Cabriole legged.

Butterfly Table. — See Table.

Cabinet. — A small piece of fur-
niture containing drawers or
compartments — Etagere.

Cable-Moulding. — See Mould-
ing.

Cabochon. — A convex
ornament, usually
round or oval, with
a plain center.

Cabriole Leg. — See
Leg.

Canal Moulding. — See Mould-
ing.

Canephores. — Figures of wom-
en bearing baskets on their
heads; used in place of col-
umns.

Cant. — A surface sloping from,
or making an obtuse angle
with, a surface adjacent to it.
Bevel.

Canteen. — Box for liquor
bottles. Cordial case.

Capital. — The head of a col-
umn.
Composite. — The capital of the
composite order, the Roman
adaptation of the Corinthian
order, which combines the

Capital. — Continued.

Corinthian and Ionic capi-
tals.

Corinthian. — The capital of the
Corinthian order, one of
the three orders used by the

Greeks, composed of acan-
thus leaves and scrolls. It
may be of Greek or Roman
form. The latter is the
more common. It appeared
in the Renaissance in a great
variety of forms.

Capital. — Continued.

Doric. — The capital of the
Doric order, composed in the

GLOSSARY

Carving. — The art of cutting
wood into ornamental forms.
Cameo. — A delicate raised carv-
ing resembling cameo cut-

\

7

Greek form of abacus, echi-
nus and annulets. In the
Roman form a bead and fil-
let may take the place of
the annulets. The form
shown is that used by Chip-
pendale.

Ionic. — The capital of the Ionic
order. The chief charac-
teristics are volutes and egg
and dart moulding.
Carcass. — The frame or skeleton

of a piece of furniture.
Cartouche. — An
ornamented
shield or tablet
sometimes in
the form of a
scroll of paper
or leather.

ting found on the Sheraton
and early Empire styles.
Flat. — Cutting wood so that
the pattern is formed by

Z2ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ2

sinking the ground and leav-
ing the face of the panel for
the design.
Incised. — Cutting the wood so

that the design is cut into
the surface.
Raised. — Cutting the wood so

that the surface of the de-
sign lies in different planes.
Relief. — Cutting the wood so
that the design is embossed
on a more or less uniform
surface.

Carving.-
S cratch-

GLOS

-Continued.

-Cutting the wood so

that the design is formed
in outline by fine lines.
Caryatides. — Figures of women
used in place of columns or
pilasters to support an entabla-
ture. See also Atlantes;
Canephores.
Casket. — See Box.
Cavetto. — See Moulding.
Chaise Longue. — See Couch.
Chair. — A movable seat with a
back.
Arcade. — A chair, the back of
which is composed of arca-
tures.
Arm. — A chair with two arms
or supports upon which to
rest the arms. Elbow chair.
Fauteuil.
Banister Back. — A chair, the

back of which is composed
of vertical balusters.

SARY

Chair. — Continued.

Bergere. — An upholstered arm

chair.
v Caquetoire. — An arm chair

with a very high back, the

seat of which rakes toward
the back.

Cane. — A chair, the back and
seat of which are caned.

Carver. — An Americanism for
a turned chair of the early
seventeenth century, the
back of
which has
three hori-
zontal turn-
i n gs and
three verti-
cal spindles,
between the
two lower
horizontal turnings. So
called because of one owned
by Gov. Carver.

Chauffeuse. — A low-seat chair.

Chippendale Style. — A chair,
the upper rail of the back
of which is usually cut in

10

QLOSSARY

Chair. — Continued.

a double cyma curve in the
form of a bow. The splat

usually cut in more or less
elaborate scrolls and curves,
especially the C curve, and
often ornamented with ro-
coco and acanthus leaf carv-
ing. Also sometimes in Chi-
nese and Gothic designs.
Called after the cabinet-
maker and designer of that
name.

Cosey. — See Easy.
Double. — See Settee.
Dutch Style. — A chair,

the

principal outline of which is
composed of cyma curves.
The top rail of the back
curves down to the uprights
forming the back.

Chair. — Continued.

Easy. — An upholstered arm
chair with high back and
spreading wings supported
by the arms. Also called
Wing chair and Cosey
chair.

Empire Style. — A chair follow-
ing the forms in fashion in
the First French Empire in
early Egyptian and classic
forms.

Farthing-ale. — An early turned
high-seat side chair.

Hepplewhite Style. — A chair,
the back of which is in oval,
shield or
round form.
Called after
the cabinet-
maker and
designer of
that name.

High Chair. — A chair standing
on long legs, intended for
use of a child.

Ladder Back. — A chair in Chip-

pendale style, the back of
which, instead of having a
splat, is composed of hori-

II

GLOSSARY

Chair. — Continued. Chair. — Continued.

zontal strips in similar de- Sheraton Style. — A chair usu-

sign to the top rail. ally with a rectangular back

Library. — An arm chair with a

solid wood curved back, in-
tended to be used at a desk.

Rocking. — A chair, the lower
ends of the feet being con-
nected from front to rear
with a curved strip of wood,
causing it to rock.

Roundabout. — A chair having
one foot at the front and at
the back, and one on each

side. The back, circular in
form, extending to each of
the side legs.
Side. — A chair without arms.

rather low and slightly
raised at the center with a
panel.

The style followed that of
the Louis XVI period.
Called after a cabinetmaker
and designer of that name.
Slat Back. — A turned chair

having horizontal slats be-
tween the stiles of the back.

Slipper. — A chair with short
legs.

Three Back. — See Settee.

Table. — A chair with a round,
oval or rectangular back set
in pivots, which enables it to
be turned down upon the
arms, thus forming a table.

12

Chair. — Continued.

Transition Style. — A chair com-
bining the Flemish, turned

GLOSSARY

Chair.

and Dutch styles and early
eighteenth century.

Turkey Work. — A turned chair
with low back, the seat and
back of which are covered
with Turkey work.

Turned, Leather Covered. — A
turned chair heavily under-
braced with seat and back
covered with leather and oft-
en studded with brass nails.

Turned Three-Legged. — Early
form of chair with triangu-

lar seat. One leg in front
and two at back. All parts

Continued,
except the seat are usually of
turnings. Originally called
buffet chair.

Upholstered. — Any chair, the
seat and back of which are
covered with a fabric.

Wagon. — A low, short-legged,
slat back, double chair, with

arms. So called because they
were used as seats in wagons.

Wainscot. — An oak chair with
paneled back, turned legs,
and heavily underbraced.
The stiles, cresting and
panel often ornamented with
•flat carving.

Wheel. — A chair with round
seat, semicircular back and

six legs. The underbracing
crosses at the center, resem-
bling spokes in a wheel.

13

Chair. — Continued.

Windsor. — A form of chair
the back of which is com
posed of slender spindles ris

GLOSSARY

Chair.

ing from the wooden seat
and supporting a curved
wooden top.

Windsor — Comb Back. — A
Windsor chair, the center
spindles of
the back
project-
ing above
the main
back and
support-
ing a head
rest.

Windsor — Fan Back. — A
Windsor chair, the spindles

of the back of which sup-
port a curved wooden strip,

Continued,
the spindles spreading in
semblance of a fan.

Windsor — Wheel Back. — A
Windsor chair having a cen-
ter splat pierced in a circular
design.

Wing. — See Easy Chair.

Writing. — A chair having a
large flat surface attached to
the right arm.

X-Braced. — A chair, the un-
derbracing of which is
crossed.

X-Shaped. — An early chair
made in the form of the let-
ter X.

Yorkshire. — A seventeenth cen-
tury chair, the back of

1

which opens in an arcade
with spindles between. Ar-
cade chair. Also applied to
one of same period having
two slats across the back, the
upper edge engrailed, and
the under side cut in pecul-
iar scrolls suggesting Moor-
ish style.

14

v;

GLOS

Chamfer. — The cor-
ner of anything
originally right
angled, cut away
so as to make an
angle with the
sides which formed
it.
Channel. — See

Moulding.
Check. — A pattern of squares of

alternating colors.
Chest. — A box of considerable
size with a hinged lid.
Bahut. — A chest with an arched

top.
Carved. — A chest with either
carved panels or carved
stiles and rails, or both.
Connecticut. — A chest having
three carved panels, the
outer one carved in a tulip
design, and the center one

SARY

Chest. — Continued.

Had ley. — A chest, the panels,
stiles, rails and fronts of
drawers of which are carved
in a crude tulip design.
The wood was usually
stained in three colors, red,
mulberry or purplish brown,
and black.

in an aster design, as in cut.
Upon the stiles are applied
split spindles, and on the
drawers and end panels,
bosses. An Americanism, so
called, because many of the
same design have been found
in the Connecticut valley.

An Americanism, so called
because many have been
found at or in the vicin-
ity of Hadley, Massachu-
setts.

Hutch. — A plain box or chest.

Marquetry. — A chest orna-
mented with marquetry.

One-Drawer. — A chest having
one long drawer below the
box part.

Painted. — A chest painted in
designs in imitation of carv-
ing. Usually made of pine.

Paneled. — A chest ornamented
in panel designs.

Three-Drawer. — A chest hav-
ing three long drawers be-
low the box part.

Two-Drawer. — A chest having
two long drawers below the
box part.

15

GLOSSARY

Chest of Drawers. — A carcass
containing drawers.

Ball Foot. — An early chest of
drawers made usually of
walnut or maple. The
frame about the drawers
has the single- or double-
arch moulding and there is
a large moulding at the base.
The piece stands on four
ball-shaped feet.

Block Front. — A chest of
drawers, the front of which
is cut in blocks, two raised
and the center one recessed.

Bombe. — A chest of drawers,
the vertical outline of front
and sides of which swell at

the bottom. The horizon-
tal line being usually serpen-
tine. Sometimes called
Kettledrum.

Bracket Foot. — A simple form
with straight bracket feet.

Bureau. — Original meaning was
a desk. Now used in Amer-
ica synonymously with a
chest of drawers.

Chest of Drawers. — Continued.

Carved. — An early form con-
temporaneous with the oak
chests and similarly carved.

Chest on Chest. — A tall piece
of furniture, consisting of
two chests of drawers, one
placed above the other.

Claw and Ball Foot. — A form
popular in the Dutch and
Chippendale periods, having
either a straight or serpen-
tine front, with animal or
bird claws grasping a ball.

Commode. — A chest of drawers
in the French fashion.

Double. — Same as Chest on
Chest.

Highboy. — See Chest of Draw-
ers on frame.

Inlaid. — A chest of drawers,
late 1 8th century, having
inlay about the drawers.

Marquetry. — An early form
ornamented with marquetry.

Ogee Bracket Foot. — A chest
of drawers of the middle
1 8th century, having bracket
feet moulded in the cyma
curve.

On Frame. — A chest of draw-
ers raised from the ground
on a frame with or with-
out drawers, having either
turned or bandy legs. Com-
monly called in America,
highboy.

16

GLOS

Chest of Drawers. — Continued.

Paneled. — An early form sim-
ilar to the paneled chests.

Pillar and Claw. — A form com-
mon in the Empire style,
having pillars either plain or
carved on either side of the
front and animal claw feet.

Reversed Serpentine Front. — A
chest of drawers, the front
of which is cut on a curve
composed of two cyma or

1C

ogee curves so joined that the
outer curves are convex and
the inner curve is concave.
Scroll Column. — A very late
form having a projecting

vertical scroll at either end
, of the front.
Serpentine Front. — A chest of

SARY

Chest of Drawers. — Continued,
drawers, the front of which
is cut on a curve com-
posed of two cyma or ogee
curves so joined that the
outer'curves are, concave and
the inner curve is convex.
Swell Front. — A chest of draw-
ers with convex front.
Chest on Chest. — See Chest of

Drawers.
Chevron. — See Moulding.
Chippendale, Thomas. — Cab-
inetmaker in London. Au-
thor "The Gentleman and Cab-
inetmaker's Director." First
edition published in 1754. It is
not known when he was born.
He died in 1779. See Style.
Cinquefoil. — An ornament con-
sisting of five cuspid divisions.
Classic. — Having the characteris-
tics of ancient Greece or Rome.
Claw Foot. — See Foot.
Claw and Ball Foot. — See

Foot.
Claw and Ball Bracket Foot.

— See Foot.
Cleat. — A strip of
wood fastened
across a number of boards to
hold them together.
Clock.

Banjo. — An early nineteenth
century mural clock having
a circular top for the dial
supported by a rectangular

17

GLOS

Clock. — Continued.

pendulum case with raking
sides and a projecting rect-
angular or round base.

Bird Cage. — See Chamber
Clock.

Chamber. — A seventeenth cen-
tury clock usually of brass,
having a domed bell at the
top and frets on three sides,
partially hiding the bell.
The dial has but one hand
and the hour is divided into
quarters instead of fifths.
These clocks are intended to
hang high on the wall on
brackets. Called also Lan-
tern and Bird Cage clocks.

Chime. — A clock which strikes
a chime on bells.

French. — An early nineteenth
century clock made of wood,
marble or alabaster, with
four columns supporting an
entablature with the clock
dial supported between the
two front columns.

Friesland. — A clock similar to
the Chamber clock, except
that the dial and ornaments
are made of lead and
painted.

Lantern. — See Chamber Clock.

Musical. — A clock which plays
tunes either on a string in-
strument or bells.

Portable. — See Table Clock.

SARY

Clock. — Continued.

Table. — A low clock in wooden
case made to stand on a man-
tel or table. Also called port-
able clocks, mantel clocks.
Tall. — A clock having a long
case to protect the royal pen-
dulum.
Cock Bead Moulding. — See

Moulding.
Coffer. — A large box or a chest,
especially one used for keeping
valuables.
Column. — A pillar. Used archi-
tecturally to denote a support-
ing member composed of a base,
shaft and capital. Commonly
applied to the shaft alone.
Engaged. — A column standing

against the wall.
Fluted. — A column, the shaft

of which is fluted.
Reeded. — A column, the shaft
of which is reeded.
Comb Back Windsor Chair. —

See Chair — Windsor.
Commode. — A piece of furniture
containing drawers. A chest
of drawers.
Composite Order. — One of the
orders of architecture, being a
Roman adaptation of the Cor-
inthian order, combining the
capitals of the Corinthian and
Ionic order. The column is
fluted.
Connecticut Chest. — See Chest.
8

GLOSSARY

Console. — A bracket. Court Cupboard. — See Cup-

Console Table. — See Table. board.

Corbel. — A piece of wood project- Credence. — See Cupboard.

ing from a wall or the face of
a piece of furniture and ap-
pearing to support some object.

Corinthian Order. — One of the
Greek orders of architecture.
The capital is carved to repre-
sent acanthus leaves and scrolls.
The column is fluted.

Corner Cupboard. — See Cup-
board.

Cornice. — Any moulded projec-
tion which crowns the part to
which it is affixed.

Corona. — A broad vertical pro j ect-
ing member of the .v
cornice situated be- £
low the cymatium.

T

Couch. — A long seat usually up-
holstered, upon which one can
recline. Sometimes called Day
Bed.
Chaise Longue. — A couch with

a chair back at one end.
Duchess. — A couch composed of
an upholstered stool and two
upholstered arm chairs.

Crenelated. — Embattled.
Cresting. — An ornamental finish
to the top of anything.

Cupboard. — A series of shelves

inclosed in a closet or cabinet

for keeping dishes, cups and

other table ware.

Ahnery. — A cupboard intended

to hold food ; also called

Ambry and Dole cupboard.

Armoire. — A press or wardrobe

not elevated from the floor.

Beaufatt. — A colloquial name
for a cupboard built into a
room.

19

Cupboard. — Continued.

Buffet. — A cupboard or side-
board for the display of plate
and china.

Credence. — A shallow cupboard
elevated on legs, upon which
food was placed and tasted
before serving. Also ecclesi-
astically a side table upon
which was placed the bread
and wine before it was con-
secrated.

Dole. — See Cupboard, Almery.

Corner. — A cupboard built to
set in the corner of a room.
Beaufatt.

Court. — Originally an open
cupboard, now used indis-
criminately with Press cup-
board.

Dresser. — A high cupboard, the
upper portion made with
open shelves and the lower
portion enclosed with doors.

Hanging. — A cupboard made to
hang on the wall.

Kas. — A large Dutch cupboard
with a heavy overhanging
moulding, usually built with
two doors above, paneled or
painted, two short drawers
below, and standing on ball
feet.

Linen. — A cupboard built in
two carcasses with upper
and lower shelves or drawers
covered with doors.

GLOSSARY

Cupboard. — Continued.

Livery. — An early form of cup-
board with pierced or spin-

dled openings to give a free
circulation of air. Intended
to hold the family rations.

Of Drawers. — A cupboard with
a series of drawers, often
enclosed with doors.

Press. — The most familiar form
of early cupboard. The top

usually supported by col-
umns with a small cup-
board below and the base

20

Cupboard. — Continued.

fitted with long drawers or

cupboards.
Side. — A cupboard similar to

the corner cupboard, built to

stand on the side wall of a

room.
Wardrobe. — A cupboard within

which to hang clothes.
Cupped Leg. — See Leg.
Curved Block. — See Block.

GLOSSARY

Cusp. — The intersecting point of

the small arcs of the trefoil,

quatrefoil, etc.
Cyma Recta. — See Moulding.
Cyma Reversa. — See Moulding.
Cymatium. — That portion of a

cornice which contains a cyma

curve.

21

D

Day Bed. — See Couch.
Dentil. — One of a series of little
rectangular blocks used be-
tween mouldings.
Desk. — A piece of furniture upon
which to write. Formerly
called Bureau.
Ball Foot. — A slant top desk of
early eighteenth century de-
sign, with single- or double-
arch mouldings on the frame
about the drawers and stand-
ing on four ball feet.
Block Front. — A slant top
desk, the fronts of the
drawers and sometimes the
lid of which are cut in
blocks, two raised and a cen-
ter one depressed.
Bookcase Top. — A desk in
two carcasses, the upper one
built to hold books.
Bureau. — Original meaning was
a desk. Now used in Amer-
ica synonymously with a
chest of drawers.
Cabinet Top. — A desk in two
carcasses, the upper one hav-
ing doors and the interior

Desk. — Continued.

fitted with compartments
and pigeonholes.

Cabriole Legged. — A slant top
desk standing high from the
floor on cabriole legs, similar
to a lowboy. Called con-
temporaneously bureau dress-
ing table.

Drop Front. — A desk, the writ-
ing part of which is cov-
ered by a vertical wooden
slab which falls and is held
horizontal by chains, thus
forming a surface upon
which to write.

Escritoire. — Same as desk. Cor-
rupted into Secretary.

Fire Screen. — A narrow desk
in the form of a fire screen,
with a vertical lid which falls
to form a writing surface.

Knee-Hole. — A desk with the
center of the lower part re-
cessed or open.

On Frame. — A slant top desk
standing high from the floor
on turned legs, which are
underbraced.

22

GLOSSARY

Desk. — Continued.

Secretary. — See Escritoire.

Reversed Serpentine Front. — A
slant top desk, the front
of the lower part of which
is cut in a curve composed
of two cyma curves, so
joined that the outer curves
are convex and the inner
curve is concave.

Serpentine Front. — A slant top
desk, the front of the lower
part of which is cut in a
curve composed of two cyma
curves, so joined that the
outer curves are concave and
the inner curve is convex.

Slant Top. — A desk, the lid of
which is on an angle to the
front, and when open is sup-
ported by pulls.

Standing. — Any desk which
stands on the floor as dis-
tinguished from the desk
box, or one to be used in the
lap.

Table. — A desk having a flat
top upon which to write. A
writing table.

Tambour. — A desk, the writ-
ing portion of which is con-
cealed behind a tambour
cover.
Desk Box. — See Box.

Diaper. — A pattern consisting of
a constant repetition of one or
more simple figures.

X~L.

Dog Tooth. — See Moulding.

Dole. — See Cupboard.

Doric Order. — The earliest or-
der of Greek architecture, the
capital consisting of an abacus
echinus and annulets unorna-
mented. See Capital.

Double-Arch Moulding. — See
Moulding.

Dove-Tail. — A tenon cut in
the form of a re-
versed wedge to sink
into a mortise similar-
ly cut.

Dowel. — A wooden pin to con-
nect two parts. Usually a sep-
arate rod set part way into
each part.

Drawbore Pin. — The pin which
secures the tenon in the mor-
tise. It was usually square,
driven into a round hole.

Dresser. — See Cupboard.

Drop. — An affixed pend-
ent ornament.

Drop Brass. — See Handle.

Dutch Foot. — See Foot.

21

E

Easy Chair. — See Chair. Entablature. — The horizontal

Echinus. — A member of the mass carried upon columns or

Doric capital which lies be- pilasters. It is divided into

-See

with

tween the abacus and the neck
of the column.

Egg & Dart Moulding.-
Moulding.

Embossed. — Ornamented
raised work.

Empire Style. — See Style.

Encarpa. — A decorative orna-
ment in the form of a festoon
of fruit or flowers.

Engrailed. — A series of concave
curves. The reverse of scal-
lop.

Engraved. — Cut with a sharp in-
strument.

1

u i r l f i f

three parts in the order named.
The architrave, the frieze and
the cornice.

Entasis. — The swell of the shaft
or column of either of the or-
ders of architecture.

Escritoire. — See Desk.

Escutcheon. — A plate to finish a
keyhole. Used also to desig-
nate a shield.

Etagere. — See Cabinet.

Extrados. — The outer line or
surface of an arch.

24

Fan Back. — See Chair — Wind-
sor.

Fan Pattern. — Carving or in-
lay in the form of an open fan.

Fasces. — The ancient insignia of
a Roman magistrate. A
bundle of elm or birch rods in
the center of which is an axe.
Used in late Sheraton and
early Empire styles as orna-
ment, carved or inlaid.

Fascia. — A flat architectural
member.

Fern Pattern. — A design
sembling a simple fern.

re-

Festoon. — An ornament in the
form of a garland or wreath

Festoon. — Continued.

of flowers, fruits or leaves sus-
pended by the ends.

Field Bedstead. — See Bedstead.

Fillet. — A small flat fas-
cia separating mould- \
ings.

Finial. — An upstanding orna-
ment finishing the upper
portion of a piece of fur-
niture.

Flush. — A surface which lies in
the same plane with the sur-

■i

rounding surface.
Flute. — A long vertical groove
in a column or pilaster.

C] r\ r\ r\

Reeded. — A flute, the lower sec-
tion of which is filled
in with reeds.
Flat Carving. — See Carv-
ing.
Flemish Scroll. . — See

Scroll.
Flemish Scroll Leg. — See Leg.

25

GLOSSARY

Flush Bead Moulding. — See Foot. — Continued

Moulding.
Foliate. — Clothed with leaves.
Foot. — That portion of a piece
upon which it rests.
Animal's Claw and Ball. —
The termi- «
nal of a leg
which is com-
posed of an
animal's claw
grasping a
ball.
Ball. — A foot in oval or round
form.

Bird's Claw and Ball. — The
terminal of a leg which is

composed of a bird's claw
grasping a ball.
Bracket. — A foot in bracket

form.

j "

Claw. — A foot in the form of
an animal's claw.

Claw and Ball Bracket. — A foot
in bracket form, in the form

of a bird's claw grasping a

ball.
Club.— See Foot— Dutch.
Dutch. — A foot in the form of

a thickened disc standing flat

on the floor or raised slight-

ly on a shoe ; also called club
foot, probably because of its
close resemblance to a golf
club.
Dutch Angular. — A Dutch foot
whose sides form
points, usually
three in number,
instead of forming
a circle.

26

GLOSSARY

Foot. — Continued. Foot. — Continued.

Dutch Elongated. — A Dutch Melon. — A ball foot

in the form of
a melon.
Ogee Bracket. — A bracket foot

foot, the end of which is

elongated to a point.
Dutch Grooved . — A

Dutch foot with

shallow channels

resembling a web

foot.
French. — A foot found on a

cabriole leg, finished in an
outward foliated scroll.

French Bracket. — A slender elon-
gated bracket
foot, the outer
edge of which
curves out
slightly.

Hoofed. — A foot carved to re-
semble a hoof.

formed of a cyma reversa
moulding.
Onion. — A ball
foot in a form

resembling an f^l
onion.

Rat Claw. — The terminal of a
leg which is composed of a

/

rat's claw, usually grasping
a ball.
Scroll. — A terminal of a leg in
the form of a scroll.

Shell. — A terminal of a leg in
the form of a shell.

27

Foot. — Continued.

Spade. — A terminal of a
tapering leg somewhat
wider than the leg
itself, in form resem-
bling a spade.

Spanish. — A grooved inward
turned scroll foot.

GLOSSARY

Frame. — The skeleton structure

Stub. — A short tapering foot

attached to the body of a
piece.
Term. — A foot which widens
at the base — usually orna-
mented with carved foliated
scrolls.
Foot-Board. — The board be-
tween the two lower posts of
a bedstead. Plain or orna-
mented.
Fox-Tailed Wedging.
wedge driven into
the end of a tenon
in the mortise so
as to give it a dove-tail charac-
ter to resist withdrawal.

— A

of a piece of furniture.
Mirror. — The border for a
mirror or picture.
French Foot. — See Foot.
French Bracket Foot. — See

Foot.
Fret. — An ornament composed of

interlaced straight or curved
lines.
Friesland Design. — Flat carv-

ing in circular and geometrical
designs.
Frieze. — The central portion of

nrw

/>

•ur ^

the entablature, usually highly
ornamented.

28

Garland. — A wreath,
Girandole. — See Mirror.
Glyph. — A short perpendicular

fluting or grboving.
Godroon. — A convex rounded or-

nament with carved top and
bottom.

Gothic. — That form of mediaeval
architecture characterized by
the pointed arch.

Grasshopper Legs. — See Legs.

Greek Key Pattern. — See Me-
ander.

Grille. — A grating or lattice
work.

Groove.-
low.

-A channel or long hol-

z

Gueridon. — A tall slender stand

intended to hold a candlestick.

Guilloche. — An ornament com-

posed of interlaced curved
lines.
Gutta. — One of a number of

L

AZAAAAA

small circular ornaments on
the under side of the regula.

29

H

Half Headed Bedstead. — See

Bedstead.
Handle. — That part of a piece of
furniture by which it can be
grasped.
Drop Brass. — An
early form con-
sisting of a
plate of metal
and a pendant
fastened to a piece by a wire
loop.
Early Engraved. — That form
of handle which consists of
a plate of brass, the surface
of which is engraved, a bail
and two wire loops holding
the bail.
Glass. — A handle in the form
of a glass knob, used in the
early nineteenth century.
Hinged. — A handle without a
plate having an oval-shaped

pendent bail attached to a
single post on a hinge.

Handle. — Continued.

Insert Ring. — A handle in the
form of a round or oval

plate or rosette with a pend-
ent ring fastened at the top.
Open Work. — A handle, the

plate of which is pierced or
cut in a design.
Oval. — A handle, the plate of
which is oval and the bail is

suspended from the outer
sides of two posts.
Plate and Bail. — A handle con-
sisting of two small oval
or round plates attached by
posts between which is sus-
pended the bail.

30

GLOSSARY

Handle. — Continued. Herring - Bone. — A border

Plate and Ring. — A handle con- formed of two narrow strips

sisting of a plate and ring.

Rosette. — A handle or knob in
the form of a rosette.

Willow. — A form of handle,
the plate of which is cut in

irregular waving lines and
extends below the suspended
bail.
Wood. — A handle in the form
of a knob of wood.
Hanging Cupboard. — See Cup-
board.
Hard Wood. — See Wood.
Hadley Chest. — See Chest.
Harlequin. — A piece of furni-
ture containing secret compart-
ments which can be released by
springs.
Head Board. — The board be-
tween the two upper posts of
a bedstead. Plain or orna-
mented.
Hepplewhite, A. — The name of
a Cabinetmaker who published
designs in England in 1788.
First name is supposed to have
been Alice. See Style.

of wood so cut that the grain
of each is diagonal and join at
an angle.

Highboy. — See Chest of Drawers
on Frame.

Hinge. — A means of connecting a
door or a table leaf with its frame
so that it will swing thereon.
Cock's Head. — A hinge, the

leaves of which are cut to re-
semble a cock's head.

H. — A form of hinge, the leaves
of which are lengthened, and
when open forms a letter H.

Loop. — An early form of hinge
consisting of
two loops in-
terlocked.

Strap. — An early simple form
of hinge with
two leaves,
the outer ends
of which are
wider than the ends which
join.
Hip. — See Knee.
Hutch. — See Chest.

3i

I, J, K

Incised Carving. — See Carving.
Incrustation. — The act of
forming a crust or hard-coated
surface.
Indentation. — A zigzag mould-
ing.
Inlay. — An ornamentation
formed by inserting one ma-
terial into another which has
been cut out to receive it.
Buhl. — A style of inlaid deco-
ration perfected by Boule,
consisting of inlays of wood,
tortoise shell and metals.
Intarsiatura. — Italian word for

inlay.
Marquetry. — Inlaid work in

elaborate designs.
Mosaic. — An ornamentation
formed by joining small
pieces of wood or other sub-
stances to form a design.
Intaglio. — A figure cut into a
surface so as to form a hollow.
The opposite of cameo.
Intarsiatura. — See Inlay.
Interlacing. — Lines which

weave under and over each
other.

Interrupted Arch Pediment.
— See Pediment.

Interrupted
Pediment.

Pediment.

Intrados. — The inner line or sur-
face of an arch.

Ionic. — One of the five orders of
architecture, the chief char-
acteristic of which is the vo-
lutes of the capital.

Japanning. — The art of coating
a surface with a hard brilliant
varnish.

Kas. — See Cup-
board.

Key Stone. — A
wedge - shaped
piece at the crown of an arch.

Knee. — The upper part of a cab-
riole leg, sometimes
called hip or shoul-
der.

Knife Box. — See Box Knife.

Knob. — A rounded projection.

Knop. — A bunch of flowers or
leaves.

32

Lacquer. — A varnish composed
of shellac dissolved in alcohol
and colored.

Lattice. — A wooden structure
composed of pieces of wood

Leg. — Continued.

Cupped. — A turned leg,
the upper part of
which is turned to
resemble an inverted

crossing and forming open
work or a piece of wood cut in
that manner.
Laureling. — A long narrow leaf
ornament.

Leg. — The support of a piece
of furniture, raising it
from the ground.
Bandy. — A leg whose
outline is an elon-
gated cyma curve ;
called also cabriole.
Cabriole. — Same as Bandy.

cup.
Double

Ogee Moulded.

straight leg, the outer sur-

faces of which are moulded
in form of two cyma curves.

Elaborated Flemish Scroll. — A
leg composed of a Flemish
scroll with an additional foli-
ated scroll just above / V
the lower volute or at
upper end of
lower scroll.

Flemish Scroll. —
A leg, the out-
line of which
is a Flemish
scroll. See Scroll — Flemish.

33

GLOSSARY

Leg. — Continued.

Flemish Scroll, Out Turn-
ing Volutes. — A leg in
form of a Flemish
scroll with an addi-
tional volute at the
top outward turned.

Fluted. — A straight leg with
flutes cut in the surface.

Grasshopper. — A card table is
said to have Grasshopper
legs when the two rear legs
pull out on a hinged frame
to support a top.

Marlborough. — A taper-
ing leg, either square
or round, terminating
in a spade foot.

Reversed S Scroll. — A
leg, the outline of
which is in the form of a
letter S reversed.

S Scroll. — A leg the outline
of which is in the form of
a letter S.

Square. — A leg, the sides of
which are square or rectan-
gular.

Tapering. — A long square leg

narrowing toward the bot-
tom.

Leg. — Continued.

Trumpet Shaped. — A
turned leg which re-
sembles a trumpet
with the large end up.
Sometimes called Um-
brella shaped.

Turned. — A leg turned
on a lathe, either plain
or with shaped sec-
tions.

Turned Bulbous. — A leg
turned in bulb form.

Turned Knob. — A leg turned
in a form resembling
knobs.

Turned Null. — A leg
turned in the form of
balls threaded on a
stick.

Turned Spiral. — A leg turned
in spiral form twisted.

Turned Umbrella Shaped. —
See Trumpet shaped.

Turned Unilateral Double
Scroll. — A leg composed of
two scrolls turned
the same way.

Turned Unilateral Flem-
ish Scroll. — A leg
composed of a Flem-
ish scroll modified so
that both volutes turn
the same way.
Linen Cupboard. — See Cup-
board.

34

GLOSSARY
Linen Fold Pattern. — An Lozenge. — Diamond shaped.

early design of carving made Lunette. — A semicircular or
to represent folds of linen.

Livery Cupboard. — See Cup-
board.
Lobe. — A section in rounded form.
Lowboy. — See Table — Chamber.

segmental aperture or out-
line.

35

M

Marquetry. — See Inlay.
Mascaron. — Mask. A human,

or partly human head used

in decoration.

Meander Pattern or Greek

Fret. — A pattern or border

composed of lines or narrow

pMM

fillets at right angles to each
other, commonly known as the
Greek Fret or Key pattern.
Medallion. — A
carved, moulded or
stamped circular or
oval work orna-
mented with flow-
ers, heads, &c.

Mirror. — A polished surface in-
tended to reflect an image. A
glass, the back of which is
coated with quicksilver.

The word is used commonly
to denote the frame surround-
ing the mirror, as well as the
polished surface.
Bilboa. — A style of mirror of
the late eighteenth century,
the distinguishing feature of
which is that the frame is
made of colored stone.
Bull's Eye. — A convex, concave
or flat surface glass in a
more or less ornate round
frame.
Chippendale Style. — A mir-
ror, the frame of which is
ornately carved in scrolls,
leaves, rococo, dripping
water effects, and other mo-
tifs of the Chippendale
style.

Cut Work. — A mirror, the

36

Mirror. — Continued.

frame of which is cut out in
various designs.

Diamond Cut. — A glass having
a design cut in the surface.

Dutch Style. — A form of cut
work mirror having a tall
cresting upon which gilded
ornaments are often applied
or inserted.

Empire Style. — A mirror, the
frame of which has the char-
acteristic form or ornament
of the Empire period.

Filagree. — A mirror of the
late eighteenth century, the
frame and cresting of which
are ornamented with flowers,
&c, in gilt made of wire
and plaster.

Girandole. — A mirror frame at-
tached to which are holders
for candles or lamps.

Hepplewhite Style. — A mirror
frame the form and orna-
ment of which are in the
characteristic Hepplewhite
style.

Interrupted or Broken Pedi-
ment.— A mirror frame, the
cresting of which is in the
form of an interrupted pedi-
ment.

Mantel. — A long mirror framed
in various styles, intended to
be used over a mantel.

Marquetry. — An early mirror

GLOSSARY

Mirror. — Continued.

frame ornamented in mar-
quetry.
Pier. — A tall narrow mirror.
Scroll Top. — A mirror frame,
the cresting of which is in
architectural form sur-
mounted by two scroll
mouldings.
Sheraton Style. — A mirror
frame in the form and or-
nament of the characteristic
Sheraton style.
Miter Joint. — A joint formed by
the meeting of matched pieces
in a frame or moulding.
Mortise. — A cavity cut to receive

a tenon.
Moulding. — An ornamentation
made by grooved or raised
bands.
Astragal. — A small convex

moulding semicircular in
section. A small torus.
Bead. — A convex rounded
moulding. Used also of

small mouldings, which an
astragal never is.

37

GLOS

Mou lding. — Continued.

Bilection. — A moulding which
surrounds a panel and pro-
jects beyond its general sur-
face.

Cable. — A bead moulding

carved with a twist to re-
semble a cable.

Canal. — Two cock bead mould-
ings separated by a plain
surface.

Cant. — A moulding composed
of plain sur-
faces instead
of curves.

Cavetto. — A moulding with a
simple con-
cave profile
usually quar-
ter round. Also called a
cove.

Channel. — A simple furrowed
or grooved moulding.

Churn. — A zigzag moulding
characteristic of Norman
architecture.

Cock Bead. — A bead which pro-
jects beyond a surface.

Cove. — Same as cavetto.

Cyma Recta. — A projecting
moulding consisting of a
concave and
convex arc.
Called also
ogee.

SARY
Moulding. — Continued.

Cyma Reversa. — A projecting

moulding consisting of a con-
vex and concave arc.
Dentil. — An ornamented mould-

uuuuuuuuuu

ing consisting of a series of
little rectangular blocks.

Dog Tooth. — An ornamented
moulding cut to form a
series of pyramidal orna-
ments resembling a row of
teeth.

Double Arch. — A moulding

consisting of two small par-
allel half round mouldings.

Echinus. — A moulding in the
form of the circular member
which lies between the aba-
cus and the top of the shaft
in a Doric column. Also
called in some forms a quar-
ter round.

Egg & Dart. — An ornament-
ed moulding composed of

38

GLOSSARY

Moulding. — Continued. Moulding. — Continued.

oval bosses separated by Reel and Bead. — A moulding

darts. consisting of an oval alter-

Flush Bead. — A bead mould-

ing which is flush with the
surface.
Ogee. — See Moulding — Cyma.

Ovolo. — A convex rounded
moulding. A quarter
round.

Pearl Edge. — A small mould-

nating with two or more
pearl-shaped sections.
Scotia. — A concave moulding
differing from a cavetto, in

frcccccrry'

that it is a half round or
greater.

Single Arch. — A moulding con-
sisting of a rather large
rounded moulding used
about the drawers of late
seventeenth century furni-
ture.

Thumb. — A moulding usually
worked on the wood and

supposed to resemble the
thumb nail.

ed edge which resembles a
string of pearls.

Quirk Bead. — A moulding con-
sisting of a bead separated
from an adjoining surface
by a groove.

Quirk Bead, Double. — Same
as Quirk Bead except that a

Torus. — A bold convex mould-
ing. A half round,
groove is cut on each side of Mosaic. — See Inlay,
the bead. Mudejar Style. — See Style.

39

N, O, P

Nail Head. — See Boss.

Nebuly. — Having waving lines.

Night Stand. — See Stand.

Null. — A convex rounded orna-
ment differing from godroon
in that the latter is on a

rounded surface, while a null
is only on a flat or quarter
round surface.

Ogee. — See Moulding.
Overlapping Drawer. — A

drawer which overlaps the

frame, usually finished with a

thumb moulding.
Overt. — Open — a term used to

designate the wings of a bird

spread for flight.
Ovolo. — See Moulding.
Palm Pattern. — A design more

or less closely resembling a

simple palm leaf.
Palmated Scroll. — See Scroll.
Palmette. — A conventional or-
nament which represents a

spreading leaf or fan.
Panel. — A small surface framed

in.
Raised. — A panel whose sur-
face extends flush with or

Panel. — Continued.

beyond the surrounding sur-
face.
Sunken. — A panel, the plane of
which lies behind its frame.

Patera. — A flat, round, dish-

shaped ornament in bas relief,

usually decorated.
Patina. — The color of a surface

obtained by age and wear.

Originally applied only to

bronze, but now extended to

include any material.
Pediment. — A triangular or

curved gable or top with two

sloping sides which rests upon
the entablature.

Broken. — See Pediment — Inter-
rupted.

Interrupted Arch. — A pediment
arch-shaped, the central por-
tion of which is cut away.
Also called broken arch
pediment.

Interrupted. — A pediment with
straight sloping sides, the
central portion of which is

40

GLOSSARY

Pediment. — Continued.

cut away. Sometimes called
Broken Pediment.
Peg. — A wooden pin.
Pendant. — An ornament consist-
ing of leaves, flowers or fruit
caught at one end and appear-
ing to hang by its own weight.

Pier. — A free standing square col-
umn.

Pigeon-Hole. — A little division
in a desk for papers, &c.

Pilaster. — A square column en-
gaged in the wall.

Pin. — A small cylindrical piece of
wood used to hold parts to-
gether.

Pineapple Pattern. — A design
more or less closely resembling

the fruit and leaves of pine-
apples and finials in that shape.

Planted On. — Attached to a sur-
face.

Plate. — The flat portion of the
handle which is held in place
by the post.

Plinth. — The square member
forming the lower division of

the base of a column. Thus
applied to a square foot or leg.

Post. — The terminals which hold
the bail of a handle and which
pass through the wood, secur-
ing the handle to the piece.

Press Cupboard. — See Cup-
board.

4i

a. r

Quadrant. — A quarter circle.
Used to designate the metal
mechanism on a drawer front
which drops to form a desk
surface.

Quarter Column. — A quarter
section of a column used to fill
in a chamfered or square re-
cessed edge.

Quartered. — To cut in quarters.
Used to designate a method of
cutting a log of wood, espe-
cially one to obtain the greatest
effect of grain.

Quatrefoil. — A piercing in four
lobes.

Quirked Bead. — See Moulding.

Rabbet, Rebate. — A groove cut
on the edge of one board so

that it may join by lapping
with another similarly cut, or
a groove made along the edge

Rabbet. — Continued.

of one piece to receive the edge
of another.

Rail. — The horizontal piece in a
frame.

Railing. — An open fret raised
from the surface.

Raised Panel. — See Panel.

Rakish. — Having an inclination
from the horizontal.

Redented. — Having an edge com-
posed of angles.

Reeding. — A number of semicir-
cular ridges closely arranged in

parallel order. The reverse
of fluting in columns or pilas-
ters. Also used to fill the
lower part of a flute.

Reticulate. — Formed of net-
work.

Reversed Serpentine Curve. —
A curve composed of two cyma

42

Reversed Serpentine Curve. —
Continued,
curves so placed as to form
convex curves on the outer

edges and a concave curve at
the center.
Rising Sun Pattern. — A semi-
circular ornament with con-

GLOSSARY

Rococo. — Continued.

verging radiates. Also called
sunburst.
Rococo. — A florid ornament con-
sisting of scrolls, shells, rocks,
water, buds and flowers
thrown together without
proper connection. A motif
popular in the Chippendale de-
signs, adopted from the French

style known by the name of
Louis XV.
Rose Pattern. — A design in the
form of a conventionalized

single rose found principally
on oak furniture.
Rosette. — An ornament in the

form of a rose, usually applied
to the surface.

43

Sausage Turning. — See Turn-
ing.

Scale Pattern. — Imbricated.
A form of carved ornament

made to represent scales of a

reptile.
Sconce. — A candle-holder fixed

to or attached to the wall or

to a frame.
Scotia. — See Moulding.
Screen. — A piece of furniture

with a flat surface, intended to

cut off light or heat.
Scroll. — A convolved or spiral

ornament.

C. — A simple scroll in the form
of the letter C.

Frilled. — A C scroll having out-
er projecting edges carved.

Scroll. — Continued.

Elaborated Flemish. — A Flem-
ish scroll with an addi-

y o

tional foliated scroll just
above the lower volute or
at the upper end of lower
scroll.
Flemish. — A scroll consisting of
a reversed C scroll joined

to a C scroll in such a way
as not to form a flowing
line.

44

GLOSSARY

Scroll. — Continued. Scroll. — Continued.

Palmated. — A scroll with Unilateral Flemish. — A Flemish

branching radiates. A term scroll so modified that both

volutes turn in the same
direction.

sometimes used to describe a
Spanish foot.

Reversed S. — A scroll in the
form of a reversed letter S.

Running Dog. — See Scroll —
Vitruvian.

Vitruvian. — An ornament con-
sisting of a series of con-

p^T^

voluted scrolls. Also called
Running Dog.
Scroll Top. — A piece of furni-
ture, the pediment of which is

S. — A scroll in the form of a

letter S.
Unilateral Double. — A scroll

composed of two cyma curves.

Separated at the center.
Secretary. — See Desk.
Serpentine Curve. — A curve

composed of two cyma curves

whose volutes both turn in
the same direction.

so placed that the outer curves
are concave and the inner one
convex.

45

GLOSSARY

Serrated. — Notched on the edge
like a saw. The word has
been extended to mean any

edge cut in a variety of curves
or lines.
Settee. — A long backed seat with
arms. It is meant for more
than one person.
Causeuse. — A small settee.

Love seat.
Double Chair. — A seat con-
sisting of two chair backs
with arms.
Three-Back Chair. — A seat con-
sisting of three chair backs
with arms.
Love Seat. — A settee in form
of a large arm chair; Cau-
seuse.
Settle. — A seat with backs and
arms. It is meant for more
than one person, made entirely
of one material. The back
sometimes swings on pivots and
turns down to form a table.
A bench.

Shell Pattern. — An ornament
more or less closely resembling
a shell.

Shoe. — A thin block on the bot-
tom of a foot.

Sideboard. — A long table with
drawers or cupboards upon
which to display articles to be
used on the dining table.

Side Cupboard. — See Cupboard.

Shearer. — A cabinetmaker of
about 1788, whose designs
closely resembled those of
Hepplewhite.

Sheraton. — A cabinetmaker who
published a book of designs
in 1 79 1. His style was at
first similar to the French
Louis XVI and later that of
the French Empire.

Slat Back. — See Chair.

Sofa. — A long upholstered seat
with back and ends upon which
one may recline.

Soffit. — The under horizontal
surface of a moulding.

Spandrel. — The space between
the extrados of an arch and the

head over it; also any one of
the corners left on a square
clock face by the circular
dial.
Spanish Foot. — See Foot.

46

GLOS

Spindle. — A small turned balus-
ter.

Splat. — That portion of a chair
back which joins the center of
the top rail with the seat and
forms the section against which
the back rests.

Splay. — A surface making an
oblique angle with another
surface. Same as Bevel or
Chamfer, but refers to a large
surface.
Split Baluster. — A baluster cut

in half longitudinally.
Split Spindle. — See Boss.
Spoon Rack. — A hanging recep-
tacle for holding spoons.
Squab. — A cushion, later meaning

a cylindrical cushion.
Stand. — A small table.
. Basin. — A small stand usually in
tripod form, the top of which
is intended to hold a basin.
Candle. — A small stand in-
tended to hold a candle; al-
so called Gueridon and
Torchere.
Night. — A stand intended to

SARY

Stand. — Continued.

be used beside the bed, usu-
ally containing a cupboard.
Tea Kettle. — A low stand in-
tended to hold a tea kettle.
Tripod. — A small table, the top
supported by a column and
three branching feet.
Wash. — A stand constructed to
hold a wash bowl and
pitcher.
Stile. — The vertical member of a
piece of framing into which
the horizontal member called
a rail is fitted.
Stool. — A seat without a back.
Foot. — A low Stool upon which
to rest the feet.
Style.

Adam. — A style named after
Adam Brothers, who were
architects and designers but
not cabinetmakers. The
style is a revival of the
Roman classic, popular at
Pompeii, and was popular
throughout the last forty
years of the eighteenth cen-
tury.
Chippendale. — A style named
after a cabinetmaker and
designer of that name. The
chief characteristics of this
style are the mingling of in-
consistent designs such as
rococo, Gothic and Chinese.
Surfaces are relieved by

47

GLOSSARY

Style. — Continued.

carving in these designs and
by frets. Chair tops are
usually bow shaped. The
later work in this style
shows very strongly the clas-
sic revival. In vogue from
about 1750 to 1775.

Dutch. — This style was popu-
lar from about 17 10 to
1750. Its chief characteris-
tics are the use of the cyma
curve in the outline and the
avoiding of straight lines
whenever possible. The
legs are cabriole and termi-
nate in the club or the ani-
mal's or bird's claw foot on
a ball. The ornament is
acanthus leaves, swags and
pendants of flowers or
fruits, mascarons, cartouches
and frets.

Empire. — A style adapted
through the French from
Egyptian models and neo-
Grecian influence. At first
it was rather refined and del-
icate, but it gradually be-
came ponderous with coarse
carving in pineapple and
acanthus leaf designs.

Heppleiuhite. — A style named
after a cabinetmaker and
designer of that name. The
stvle is classic but more deli-

Style. — Continued.

cate than that of Adam and
shows the influence of the
Louis XVI style. The
chair backs are either oval,
shield-shaped or round. The
ornament is classic, free
from the rococo influence.
Both painting and carving
are used. The style was in
vogue during the last quarter
of the eighteenth century.
Jacobean. — This style is di-
vided into two periods,
Early and Late. The Early
style, which covers apparent-
ly the first sixty years of the
seventeenth century, is mas-
sive, heavily underbraced,
and the material is chiefly
oak. Decoration was ob-
tained from flat carving, in-
lay and applied bosses and
split spindles. The favor-
ite design was scrolls,
rosettes, leaf and arabesque.
Chairs were either of the
wainscot or turned type, with
high seats. The late Jaco-
bean style covers the reign
of Charles II. French and
Continental influences are
noticeable, and furniture, al-
though bearing the same
characteristics as the earlier
period, is much lighter. The

48

GLOSSARY

Style. — Continued.

heavy chairs were replaced
by the light turned and
cane seat and back ones.

Mudejar. — A mixture of Moor-
ish and European styles of
the seventeenth century.

Sheraton. — A style named after
a cabinetmaker and de-
signer of that name. The
style is quite similar to that
of Hepplewhite, but more
closely follows the designs of
the Louis XVI school. The
last edition of Sheraton's
books shows Egyptian de-
signs similar to those in fav-
or in France and known as
the Empire style. Date
1790 to 1810.

Transition. — A style in vogue
from about 1700 to 1720.
It is a mixture of the
"William and Mary" and
" Dutch " styles, showing
characteristics of each.

William & Mary. — The chief
characteristics of this style
are the turned legs and
underbracing on chests of

Style. — Continued.

drawers and desks, which
raises them from the floor.
The ornament is either carv-
ing in foliated scrolls, or
marquetry, but many pieces
are plain, relying for their
beauty on line and mould-
ings. Style in vogue 1690
to 1 7 10.
Strap-Work. — A flat ornament
composed of interlacing crossed
and folded bands.
Stretcher. — A bracing extend-
ing between the legs of a piece
of furniture.
Sun-Burst. — A circular radiated
design. It differs from the Ris-

ing Sun pattern in that the
former is a full circle and the
latter is a half circle.
Swag. — Same as Garland. Fes-
toon.

49

T, U

Table. — An article of furni-
ture consisting of a flat sur-
face raised from the floor on
legs.
Bandy-Leg. — A table, the legs
of which are in cabriole
form.
Breakfast. — A movable table

with two leaves.
Bureau Chamber. — A piece of
furniture in the form of a
chamber table or lowboy,
having a slant top desk in
place of a table top.
Butterfly. — A table, the leaves
of which are supported by
large wooden brackets ex-
tending from the stretch-

Table. — Continued.

ing, usually with a leaf
which folds over and lies
upon the table top when not
in use.

Chamber. — A table having three
to five drawers, commonly
called a " lowboy."-

Console. — A table intended to
stand against the wall, the
slab top of which is sup-
ported by consoles.

Dining. — A table upon which
meals are served.

ers. The outer edge of Dish-top. — A tripod table, the

each bracket is shaped in an
elongated cyma reversa
curve.
Card. — A table for card play-

top of which is cut in mould-
ed circles.
Drawing. — An early table, the
top of which is composed of

50

GLOS

Table. — Continued.

three slabs of wood superim-
posed, two of which draw
out from the ends, thus en-
larging the surface of the
table.

Dressing. — A table intended to
be used for toilet purposes;
sometimes called a rudd
table.

Drop-leaf. — A table with hinged
leaves.

Extension. — A dining table with
extending frame, to which
leaves can be added.

Folding. — An early form of
table, the frame of which
folds.

Framed. — A table without
leaves.

Gallery. — A table, the top of
which is encircled by an ap-
plied fret or band.

Game. — A table, the top of
which is arranged for two or
more games.

Gate-leg. — A drop-leaf table,
having eight or more legs;
each leaf supported by at
least one pair of legs joined
by an upper and lower
stretcher.

Harlequin. — A table, the inte-
rior of which when released
by a spring lifts up, disclos-
ing compartments, drawers,
&c.

SARY

Table. — Continued.

Kidney Shaped. — A table, the
top of which is kidney shaped;
called in French " Haricot."

Night. — A small table with a
cupboard, used beside the
bedstead.

Pembroke. — A breakfast table
with two leaves, the top of
which is often inlaid or
painted in elaborate de-
signs.

Pie Crust Edge. — A tripod
table, the raised edge of

which is cut from the solid
wood in cyma and simple
curves.

Pier. — A table made to stand
between windows.

Pillar & Claw. — A table, the
support of which is com-
posed of a central column
with three or four spread-
ing feet shaped to resemble
claws.
. Refectory. — An early long, nar-
row table upon which was
served a meal.

51

GLOSSARY

Table. — Continued.

Rudd. — Same as Table — Dress-
ing, which see.

Serving. — A long table intended
to set against the wall from
which to serve a meal.

Sewing. — A table with drawers
fitted with compartments to
hold sewing articles.

Side. — A long table, usually
with drawers, intended to
stand against a wall.

Sideboard. — A long table in-
tended to stand against the
wall, upon which to display
plate, or from which to serve
a meal.

Slate. — A table with a slate
top surrounded with a broad
frame ornamented with mar-
quetry.

Sofa. — A long narrow table fin-
ished on all sides; intended
to stand beside a sofa.

T able-Board. — See Table —
Trestle.

Tea. — A small low table in-
tended to hold tea uten-
sils.

Tilt-top. — A table, the top of
which can be tilted to a ver-
tical position.

Tray-top. — A tripod table with
a round top encircled by
a raised edge cut from the
solid.

Trestle. — An early form of

Table. — Continued.

table with a movable top ;
supported on trestles. Called
a Table-board.
Tripod. — A table, the support
of which is composed of a
column and three spreading
legs.
Turned. — A table, the legs or
legs and stretchers of which
are turned.
Writing. — A flat top table upon

which to write.
X Braced. — A table with

crossed stretchers.
Nest of. — A series of tables of
such size that when not in
use they can be set one inside
another. Sometimes called
" Quartetto."
Tabouret. — A small stool shaped

like a drum.
Tambour. — Narrow parallel
strips of wood mounted con-
tinuously on cloth and made as
a slide to cover pigeonholes,
drawers or cupboards.

Tenon. — The cutting of the end
of the rail so that it will fit
into the mortise of the stile.

Tester. — The top of a bedstead
supported by the four posts.
This is entirely upholstered,

52

Tester. — Continued.

entirely of wood or with a
moulding of wood often elab-
orately carved.

Thumb Moulding. — See
Moulding.

Till. — A small drawer or recep-
tacle.

Tongue. — A continuous ridge
left on the edge of a plank in-

GLOSSARY

Tudor Rose.

TIC

tended to fit into a groove cut
into another plank.

Torchere. — A tall stand intend-
ed to hold candles.

Torus. — See Moulding.

Trefoil. — An opening having
three lobes separated by
cusps.

Triglyph. — Ornaments repeated
at equal intervals, consisting of

AAAAAA'

two channels and two half*
channels. Found in the Doric
frieze.

An ornament in
the form of a rose, used on
early oak pieces.

Tulip Pattern. — An ornament
in marquetry or carving more
or less closely resembling a
tulip.

Turkey Work. — A covering
composed of a coarse material
upon which a pattern is worked
in worsted by passing small
pieces of worsted through the
material and knotting them.
So-called because often made to
resemble Turkish rugs.

Turning. — The process of giving
circular or other forms to
wood by causing them to re-
volve in a lathe and applying
cutting instruments.
Bulbous. — A turning in bulb
form. See Leg, Bulbous,
Turned.

Cable. — A turning made to re-
semble a cable.

Knob. — A turning made to re-
semble knobs. See Leg,
Knob, Turned.

53

GLOSSARY

Turning. — Continued. Turning. — Continued.'

Sausage. — A turning made to Vase, Ring £5° Bulb. — Turn-

ing which resembles a vase

resemble contiguous elongat-
ed ovals.

separated by a ring from a
bulb-shaped turning.
Twisted Column. — A column,
the shaft of which is spiral
turned.
Turtle-Back. — See Boss.

Spiral — Twist. — Turning made Underbraced. — Legs strength-
to resemble a corkscrew. ened with stretchers.

54

V, w

Valance. — The drapery hanging
about a bedstead.

Veneer. — A thin strip of wood
applied to a surface.

Vitruvian Scroll. — See Scroll.

Volute. — A spiral scroll used in
the Ionic, Corinthian
and composite capi-
tals.

Wainscot. — The word is derived
from the low German word
Wagenschot and signifies the
best kind of oak timber well
grained and without knots.

Warming Pan. — A metal pan
with a cover and long handle.
Within hot coals were placed
and the pan was then placed
between the sheets to warm the
bed.
Wood.

Hard. — Generally speaking, the
hard woods belonging to the
broad leaf deciduous va-
rieties.
Soft. — Generally speaking, the
soft woods belonging to the
coniferous varieties.

55

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