Abacus: The topmost member of the capital of a column.

Acanthus Leaf: A leaf decoration often used on furniture, particularly on brackets and legs.

Accent Colors: Contrast colors used to enhance room color schemes.

Accessories: Objects such as books, plants, vases, lamps, and decorative pieces.

Acorn: Turned ornament resembling an acorn; common in Jacobean furniture as finials on chair posts and bedposts, as pendants and as the profile of leg turnings in Jacobean tables.

Acrilan: A synthetic fiber used in producing Wear-Dated® fabrics.

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.

Adam Style: British neoclassical style that predominated during the later half of the 1700’s. This style developed out of reaction to the more fanciful rococo style of the 1750s, and is characterized by slender, graceful lines, refined shapes and restrained ornamentation.

Adaptation: Furniture that captures the feel of an original design or period, but differs in some details.

Ageing: Decorative technique used to create the effect of wear-and-tear on a wooden, painted, plastic or other surfaces.

Alcove: Recessed part of a room. Bed alcoves exist in Pompeian rooms, and such placing of the sleeping quarters was common in northern Europe through the Middle Ages and later. In the 18th century special beds were designed to fit such recesses. Alcoves are also used for bookcases and cabinets, dining groups, etc.

Ambry: In medieval churches a recess for the storage of goods. The addition of doors gave it the cupboard form. The English equivalent became a large cupboard with doors; the interiors were fitted with shelves for storage.

American Colonial: Term loosely applied to all American furniture used by the colonies prior to the American Revolution. This style includes rough handmade pieces of the early American frontier, New England versions of Jacobean and Puritan (Cromwellian), furniture imported by settlers from Europe and Americanized versions of formal English and European designs. There is no clear division of this period but most agree to group it into Early Colonial and Late Colonial (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 rough in design. This charming style is still very popular today.

American Frontier (American Primitive): This style of late 1700’s to 1800’s was created to meet the demands of the western frontier. Noted pieces include wagon seat twin chairs, sinks without plumbing, cupboards and cobbler’s benches. Woods primarily used included ash, hickory, maple, black walnut and pine. Pieces of this period were usually painted black or in primary colors.

Angel Bed: A bed with a canopy but no front support.

Aniline: Term applies to dyes derived from coal tar, which are used to color fabrics and leather.

Aniline-Plus: Term sometimes applied to leather finished with an opaque pigmented dye.

Antique: Could be anything ranging from a piece of furniture to art. The US government considers any item over 100 years old to be an antique, whereas most collectors use 50 years as a benchmark.

Antique Finish (or Antiquing): A paint or stain finish applied to an object to give an aged look.

Antique Satin: A drapery fabric that has a lustrous effect, normally made of rayon/acetate blends.

Apothecary Chest: A low chest with small drawers that was originally used to store herbs for cooking and medicinal purposes.

Apron: The wooden panel connecting the surface and legs of a table or chair.

Area Rug: A small rug or carpet which covers only part of the floor.

Arm Chair: Seating that has both a backrest and armrests.

Armoire: A tall wardrobe with doors and shelves for clothing, more recently armoires have been adapted for use as an entertainment center or computer workstation.

Arrow Foot: A cylindrical foot that's tapered and separated from the leg by a turned ring.

Art Deco: A streamlined, geometric style of home furnishings and architecture popular in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Characteristics include rounded fronts, wood furniture with chrome hardware and, or, glass tops.

Art Moderne: Extreme modernistic French style of design starting at the Paris Exposition in 1925, this style is characterized by straight lines, angles and geometric decorations.

Art Nouveau: Decorative style developed in France between 1890 and 1910. Tiffany lamps are a great example of this styles ornate and flowing lines.

Artisan Style: A style characterized by fine but not overly ornate workmanship that celebrates the maker's community identity or ethnicity.

Arts & Crafts: Also commonly known as Mission style. This style was popular from the late 1800’s through the 1920’s. The Arts and Crafts movement was a reaction against the mass-produced and ornate Victorian furniture of that time.

Asian Style: A general term referring to styles of the Far East. Such as Chinese, Japanese, or Korean designs for example. Furniture with Asian characteristics are popular as a subset of contemporary style.

Astragal: Small, semi-circular molding applied to the glazing bars on cabinets and bookcases.

Attached Back Pillow: A pillow treatment that can’t be removed from the upholstered piece, commonly found on sofas, loveseats and chairs.

Austrian Shade (or Austrian Blind): A decorative window treatment with a scalloped lower edge. When the blind is drawn up it maintains the scalloped edge, creating folds of ruched fabric.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Bachelor's Chest: A small low chest originating in the 1700’s.

Backing: A coating that is applied to the back of fabric to prevent seam slippage and excess wear.

Backsplash: A small strip (usually wood) placed against the wall or on the back of a dry sink or console.

Backsplat: A slat of wood in the middle of a chair back.

Baffle: A device fixed to a light fitting to prevent light from glaring into the eyes.

Bagging: A painting technique in which a crumpled bag (or other material) is dabbed onto a glazed or emulsioned wall to create textured patterns.

Bail: A metal ring or hoop forming a handle.

Baize: Wool fabric resembling felt (usually green) used on gaming tables.

Balance: The arrangement of objects around an epicenter, or creating an even feel or atmosphere in a room.

Ball & Claw: A carved lions or birds claw clutching a sphere, usually at the end of a cabriole leg or tables base.

Ball Foot: The rounded end of a turned leg having a hooded effect.

Balloon Chair: A rounded back Hepplewhite style chair in the shape of a hot-air balloon.

Balloon Shade: A window treatment with gathered fabric and soft billowy folds.

Baluster: A small turned, square or flat column that supports a rail. Also used to form chair backs.

Bamboo Turning: Style of turning and painting wood to resemble bamboo. Popular in the 19th Century.

Banding: An Inlay or Marquetry that produces a color or grain contrast along the perimeter of a surface such as a tabletop.

Banquette: A long upholstered seat or bench, that’s usually built-in.

Barley Twist: A furniture leg that’s turned so that it resembles a screw thread.

Baroque: A highly ornate decorative style that originated in Italy in the 1600’s. The style is characterized by irregular curves, twisted columns, elaborate scrolls and oversize moldings.

Barrel Back: A chair or sofa with the arms and back forming a continuous curve.

Barrel Chair: A semicircular upholstered chair with a loose seat cushion.

Bassinet: A bed for a baby. Originally basket shaped.

Batten: A strip of wood that's attached to a wall to provide supports for fixing fabric or paneling.

Bauhaus: A style of the early 1900’s taking its name from the German School of Architecture. This minimalist style has had a great effect on contemporary architecture and furniture design.

Beading: A decorative detail that resembles a row of flattened beads.

Bedding Ensemble: Can be any combination bed spreads, pillow shams, bed skirts, etc.

Beidermeier: A German furniture style from the first half of the 1800’s. The furniture is often plain and squared in form and borrows elements from many styles, particularly French Empire. The Beidermeier style concentrates on strength and comfort at the expense of grace and refinement.

Bench Cushion: A long seat cushion that covers the entire deck area of a sofa.

Bentwood: A process of steam bending wood for shaping into furniture parts, particularly chairs.

Bergère: An upholstered French armchair with closed arms. Features include an exposed wood frame, loose seat cushion and wide proportions.

Blanket Chest: A low box-like chest for storing blankets often called a hope chest.

Block Foot: A square foot at the base of a straight leg.

Block Front: An American furniture form of the 1700’s, used primarily in chests. The front is divided into three vertical segments consisting of a concave panel in the center and convex panels on each side.

Bolster: A long and usually cylindrical stuffed pillow or cushion. Also an oversized backrest or pillow which can be rectangular or wedge-shaped.

Bombe: A low baroque style chest with bulging convex sides.

Bonnet Top: A hooded top usually found on a secretaries, china cabinets, bookcases, and curios.

Book Matching: Two adjacent sheets of veneer that are opened like a book and glued side by side to produce a symmetrical pattern.

Borax: Not really a period or style, the term is applied to inexpensive mass produced furniture from the 1920’s on. Borax is noted for large, excessively overstuffed upholstered pieces, extensive use of overly elaborate veneers or simulated wood panels, plastic moldings, and exaggerated waterfall fronts.

Boss: An oval or round ornament applied to a surface.

Boston Rocker: A large wooden rocker with a spindle back and wide top rail, which is often painted or stenciled.

Boudoir Pillow: A small or baby size decorative pillow, usually measuring about 12" x 16".

Bow Back: A popular type of Windsor chair, also the style of a back such as a bow back rocker.

Bow Front: A rounded curve on the front of a piece of wood furniture.

Box Pleat: A symmetrical skirt pleat made by folding the fabric to the back of each side of the pleat.

Bracket Foot: A low foot running both ways from the corner of wood furniture to form a right angle.

Braganza: An inscrolled or knurled foot, also commonly called a Spanish foot.

Breakfront: A china cabinet that’s divided vertically into three segments with the middle segment projecting forward.

Brewster Chair: An American Colonial style chair with large turned posts and spindles.

Brocade: A rich fabric with a raised pattern woven into it. Brocades use richly colored, sometimes metallic threads that make the design stand out against the background.

Broken Pediment: An ornamental crest running across the top of a tall piece such as a highboy or chest. The pediment is interrupted or broken by an opening that highlights a carved finial such as an urn or other shape.

Buffet (or Sideboard): A sideboard without a hutch or storage cabinet on top.

Bullion: Long corded fringe that's used in upholstery or window treatments.

Bun Foot: A round ball shaped foot normally used on a chest or seating piece.

Bunk Bed: Two beds that are joined together so that one is placed above the other.

Bureau: A dresser used to store clothing also a piece of furniture with drawers used as a desk. Bureau’s normally feature either a fall-front, which slopes at 45 degrees, a tambour front, or a cylinder front.

Burl: Wood cut from a large rounded growth on a tree. Burl is characterized by a strong distinctive grain and is often used as a special veneer or inlay.

Butler's Tray Table: A tray with four flip-up handholds that can be removed from the table legs on which it stands. When the sides are down an oval tabletop is created.

Butt Joint: The junction of the ends of two pieces of wood such as on a sill.

Butterfly Table: A small drop-leaf table whose leaves are supported by a swinging support resembling a butterfly wing on a rudder.

Button Tufted: Buttons that are fabric covered and sewn through the upholstery surface and tied down. The placement of the buttons and their resulting folds produce geometric patterns.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Cable: A molding design that resembles twined rope.

Cabriole Leg: A decorative S-shaped table or chair leg that curves outward at the knee then tapers at the ankle. Commonly found on Queen Anne, Chippendale and other 18th-century pieces. Often seen with ball and claw feet.

Café Curtain: A curtain that covers only the bottom half of a window and hangs from a wire or thin curtain rod.

California King: A bed size that measures 74"x86". This style is popular on the West coast of the United States. The additional size comes in the length creating a rectangular shape rather than the square shape of a standard king (Eastern King).

Camel Back: A curved sofa back characterized by a large central hump.

Campaign Furniture: Portable furniture that’s folding or collapsible, or made of flat components that can be assembled or disassembled. Initiated for military use and usually features handles, it is most associated with colonialism.

Canapé: A type of French settee with padded back and seat, open arms, and a decorated frame.

Cane: Split rattan, often used to cover chair seats and backs.

Canopy: A fabric covering attached to a frame at the top of bedposts.

Canopy Bed: A bed supported by four posts with a fabric cover on top as a canopy.

Canted: Slopping at an angle, such as a sofa or chair back.

Captain's Chair: A Windsor chair with a lower, rounded spindle back.

Carcase: The basic structure of a piece of furniture; often forms the foundation for veneering.

Card Table: A folding table that originated in England during the late 1600’s to accommodate the nobility's passion for gambling.

Carolean: Also referred to as Restoration or Late Jacobean, was most popular during the late 1600’s. Features of this styling include elaborate deep carving, spiral turning on legs and stretchers, molded paneling, scrolled feet, cane seats, and rich tapestries. The most common woods used in this styling were oak and walnut.

Carved Rug: A rug with a three-dimensional design/pattern.

Carver: A term that originated in the 19th century to describe a dining chair with elbows.

Case Good(s) (or Case Furniture): Non-upholstery pieces such as tables, hutches, dressers and chests, which have functional or storage capabilities.

Casein (or Buttermilk): A traditional paint made by blending earth colored pigments with buttermilk (or skimmed milk) and a small amount of lime. Casein dries to a flat, smooth finish.

Casement: A cloth drapery made of an open weave material that's normally somewhat opaque.

Cassone: Italian chest, often highly decorated with carving and inlay.

Casting: The method of forming metal objects by pouring molten metal into a mold and allowing in to harden.

Center Draw: A pair of draperies which open and close at a window’s mid point.

Center Glide: A center track (glide) that guides a drawer.

Centerpiece: An ornament used to occupy the center of a dining table.

Ceramic Tiles: Glazed clay tiles, which stand up to large amounts of wear and tear very well.

Chair and a Half: An upholstered seating piece that's larger than a armchair, but not as large as a loveseat.

Chair Rail: A molding placed on a wall about thirty inches from the floor to protect the wall from being scratched by chair's back.

Chaise Lounge: An upholstered armchair with the back and seat lengthened for reclining. Styles ranges from formal to contemporary.

Chambray: A popular variety of cotton fabric that combines colored warp and white filling yarns in a plain weave.

Chamfer: A corner or edge that is cut at an angle or beveled.

Channel Back: A sofa or chair with a back design of vertical sections of cushioning in a shell-like pattern.

Channeling: A grooved or creased effect.

Charles of London: A style of sofa or chair with a low rolled arm.

Checks: Splits or cracks in wood, which are ordinarily caused by seasoning. A common characteristic of genuine cherry wood pieces.

Chenille: A fuzzy yarn that is like velvet when tightly woven.

Chesser: A combination of a dresser and a chest. Chessers are narrower than a dresser and shorter than a chest, and normally have a small tilting mirror.

Chest: A tall, narrow piece featuring a series of drawers for storing clothing.

Chest on Chest: A tall chest with a larger chest of drawers that supports a slightly smaller chest.

Chesterfield: A sofa style with deep button tufting and large rolled arms that are the same height as the back.

Cheval Glass: A standing mirror in a freestanding vertical frame. Also called a dressing mirror.

Chiffonier (Lingerie Chest): A tall and narrow chest of drawers normally used for storing undergarments and lingerie.

Chifforobe: A combination of wardrobe and chest-of-drawers.

China Cabinet: A cabinet with glass fronts to store and display china, the sides may or may not feature glass.

Chinese: Chinese art and furniture design heavily influenced European furniture periods, particularly during the 1500’s through the 1800’s. Styles especially influenced include Chippendale, Regency, and Louis the XV styles. All Chinese furniture is lacquered and usually features relief carving for decoration. Most pieces are small and simple and rely on decorative details for their beauty. Most common woods on authentic pieces were teak, sandalwood, and bamboo. Chinese rugs and wallpaper are famous throughout the world.

Chinoiserie: A decoration inspired by Chinese art, which can be painted or lacquered on furniture or used as themes on wallpaper, fabric, etc.

Chintz: A printed cotton fabric that is often "shiny" or glazed.

Chippendale: A design that’s more rectangular and heavier than Queen Anne pieces. Chippendale design features include cabriole legs, ball and claw feet, and highboys with broken pediment tops.

Claw & Ball (or Ball & Claw): A carved lions or birds claw clutching a sphere, usually at the end of a cabriole leg or tables base.

Club Chair: An upholstered chair with arms, normally made to match a sofa and covered in the same material.

Club Foot: A turned foot resembling a club; often found at the end of a Cabriole leg.

Club Sofa: A fully upholstered piece of furniture with arms that are lower than its back.

Cockbeading: Bead molding applied to the edges of drawers.

Cocktail Table: A table normally positioned in front of a sofa, which provides a surface for serving. Also, known as a coffee table.

Coffer: A multi-functional traveling chest with handles and a domed lid but without feet, usually made of oak.

Coil Springs: Wire coils used in more expensive upholstery to give a desired resiliency and firmness to the seat and back.

Colonial: American furniture from the 1700’s through the Revolutionary era. The formal styles are usually mahogany or cherry while plainer furniture was done in pine, oak, and maple. Queen Anne and Chippendale designs are often included in this category.

Colonial Revival: Reproductions of classic American styles from the 1700’s, although not always accurate in detail. Revival pieces were popular from the late 1800’s through the early 1900’s. Also known as just "Revival".

Color Scheme: Color combinations for the interiors of rooms and homes in general.

Color Way: A term used in interior design to describe a color combination.

Colorwashing: A decorative painting technique where a thin glaze (or water-based wash) is applied over the base coat of paint to create an effect of subtle layers of color.

COM/COL: Furniture industry term for "Customer's own material" or "Customer's own leather." Typically expressed in square yards for fabric (COM) and in square feet for leather (COL). Figure references the amount of material required for custom fabric or leather coverings.

Comb Back: A Windsor chair having an extension of the back above the arm rail that consists of five or more spindles and a curved top rail resembling a comb.

Combing: A painting effect in which a comb (or comb like tool) is dragged across the paint or glaze to create a series of lines.

Comforter: Comforters cover the mattress, but not the box spring. Since the top and bottom fabrics of a comforter are quilted together with a filling material in between, they are usually fluffier and thicker than a bedspread or coverlet. Comforters are usually used with a dust ruffle to cover the box spring. Comforters are usually too short to cover the bed pillows, therefore most people use shams.

Commode: A small, low chest with doors or drawers, many traditionally styled nightstands are referred to as commodes.

Commonwealth (or Puritan): Pieces are straight and severe with very little decoration. The proportions are rectangular or square. Chairs feature stout under-bracings. This style normally has high straight backs and low seats. Upholstery if used is somber-hued, with oak being the predominant wood used. Most popular during the mid to late 1600’s.

Console: A term originally applied to a bracket that supported cornices or shelves and later 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.

Contemporary: A term covering many styles of furniture that developed in the latter half of the 1900’s. Contemporary pieces have an updated look that’s softened and rounded compared with the stark lines of modern design.

Continental: A pillow that’s 26" square, which is the traditional European sized pillow.

Corduroy: A cotton or rayon velvet that's woven with ridges (or cords).

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 china cabinet made to fit into a corner.

Cornice: A molding that crowns or runs along the top of a curio, hutch, etc.

Corrected Grain Leather: Leather that’s buffed to remove unattractive blemishes and embossed to simulate an attractive grain pattern or to add a decorative texture.

Cottage Furniture: A style of casual furniture that’s characterized by being painted and/or decorated. Cottage pieces often feature turned legs and very simple lines.

Country Style: A casual style that gained popularity in the 1980's and remains popular today, often featuring nature and nostalgic motifs. The "appearance" of handcrafting is also important. Distressing is commonly seen.

Coverlet: A bed cover that reaches to the top of the bed and to the bottom of the box spring on three sides.

Coving: A decorative plaster or polystyrene molding used to cover the join between walls and ceiling.

Crackle Glaze (or Craquelure): A special type of glaze used to create a fine network of cracks.

Credence Table: A type of small table used for storing food before serving; generally a semi-circular table with a hinged top.

Credenza: Normally a sideboard or buffet. In office furniture, credenzas are a horizontal filing cabinet, which are often placed behind a desk.

Crest Rail (Top Rail): The top horizontal rail of an upholstered piece, which can be very detailed.

Crinoline Stretcher: An arched stretcher found on certain Windsor chairs.

Crocking: The loss of transfer of leather coloring or finish by abrasion.

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.

Curved-Back Sofa: A sofa whose back arches in a smooth, even curve with large, scrolled arms.

Cushion Drawer: A convex drawer below a cornice that runs the full width of a piece of furniture.

Cyma Curve: A distinctive 'S' shaped curve incorporated into Queen Anne furniture.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dado Joint: A rectangular groove across the width of a board or plank that another piece of wood fits into.

Dado Rail: A Wooden rail or molding that's fixed horizontally along a wall, usually about a third of the way up from the floor.

Damask: A heavy reversible fabric featuring a pattern that’s distinguished from the background by contrasting luster.

Daybed: A seating piece that can also serve as a bed.

Deboss: To depress a design in leather, paper, or composition board.

Découpage: A method of decorating walls and objects with paper cutouts.

Denim: Heavy cotton twill woven from coarse yarns.

Dentils (or Dentil Molding): Rectangular tooth-like blocks spaced at equal intervals along a cornice molding.

DeStijl: A 20th century style originating in the Netherlands. As with other Dutch furniture of the period, DeStijl furniture is characteristically simple and clean-lined.

Dhurrie Rug: A flat woven wool or cotton rug featuring beautiful designs.

Diamond Tufting: An arrangement of tufted buttons which yields a diamond shaped pattern on the back of an upholstered piece of furniture.

Dinette: A casual dining set, which is often used in the kitchen.

Dining Room: Traditionally a formal room dedicated to the serving of meals.

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 the late 1700’s to early 1800’s.

Distemper: Paints made by mixing pigment with water and bound with casein, glue or egg. Widely used before the arrival of emulsion.

Distressed (or Distressing): A furniture trait where pieces are purposely dented or otherwise marked to render an antique or rustic appearance.

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 furniture construction.

Down: Feathers from ducks or geese.

Dragging: A paint effect that produces fine stripes on a surface, usually done by dragging a dry brush or through a glaze.

Drapery: A draped fabric window treatment.

Draw Draperies: Curtains or drapes mounted on a horizontal traversed rod so they can be open and closed with a pull cord.

Dresser: A chest of drawers used to store clothes.

Drop Front: The hinged front of an upright desk that drops down to provide a surface for writing.

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

Drop-In Seat: An upholstered seat frame that sits in the main framework of a chair.

Drop Leaf: A dining or occasional table with hinged leaves that can be lowered.

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

Drum Dyeing: Maximum dye penetration of leather by immersing it in a dye solution in a tumbling drum.

Dry Brushing: A paint technique in which a brush is worked over a glaze to create a cloudy effect.

Duck: A closely woven heavy durable material.

Dumb Waiter: A type of furniture with a central shaft and circular trays, which often revolves to enable those who are dining to help themselves to additional plates.

Duncan Phyfe: A furniture style popular in the late 1700’s to early 1800’s. Duncan Phyfe pieces are characterized by feet that gracefully curve outward on both tables and sofas. Duncan Phyfe seating pieces often have lyre-shaped backs, rolled top rails and arms.

Dust Ruffle: Dust ruffles fit under the mattress and on top of the box spring to decorate with fabric to the floor.

Dustboard (Dust Panel): A panel placed between drawers in a chest or dresser to eliminate dust.

Dutch Foot: A type of pad foot used on the legs of chairs.

Dutch Renaissance: This style is square, solid and heavy, with straight lines as a rule. Chairs are characterized 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 large brass 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 slight adaptation of the late Renaissance style. Typical are oak cupboards with four doors and chairs with seats and backs of velvet or leather held in place by nails. Most pieces are massive, solid unpretentious pieces made of local woods with turnings.

Duvet Cover: A removable cover that encases a down-filled comforter known as a duvet.

Dye Lot: Because fabrics are dyed in varying quantities of yardage, consistency of color will vary. Therefore there will be differences in color from bolt to bolt.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Early American: American furniture design of the late 1600’s to early 1700’s (still popular today), adapted from popular European styles such as Jacobean and William and Mary. The look is characterized by straight lines and minimal decoration. The style has merged into what is now called Colonial, normally featuring elements of Queen Anne and Chippendale design.

Early Renaissance: Early 1500's, the transitional period between Gothic Arts and the Classical Revival. Characterized by arch form, ornament and detail in style and decoration, high relief carving with diamond shapes and architectural pilasters, and ornamented with olive, laurel and acanthus leaves. Pieces usually featured no hardware.

Eastlake: Style designed by Charles Eastlake, popular in England and America during the late 1800’s. Style was medieval and featured Gothic and Japanese ornamentations. Cherry and fruitwoods were primarily used along with tile and metal panel and eye-catching hardware for decoration.

Easy Chair: Any large chair which is suitable for lounging.

Ebonized: A painting effect where an object is treated with color to make it look like ebony.

Eclectic: A style of decorating combining furniture and accessories of various styles and periods.

Egg & Dart: A classic design of alternating oval and dart shapes, commonly applied to cornices.

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

Egyptian: This is arguably the first "influential" style of design dating from 4000 to 300 B.C. Pieces were very colorful and highly decorated. Carvings featured papyrus, lotus, and human and animal forms. Seating was usually of leather or cane and loose cushions were common. The most popular woods of choice were sycamore, cedar, yew and olivewood. Royal pieces were normally further decorated with inlaid ivory, gold and jewels.

Eight-Way Hand Tied: Springs used in upholstered furniture, in which each spring is tied in eight directions by hand securing the springs inside of the frame.

Elizabethan: A large furniture style of severe form that emerged during the reign of Elizabeth I in England during the latter half of the 1500’s. Elizabethan pieces are characterized by heavy carving and massive size.

Embossing: A technique to impress or stamp a design onto a piece of furniture; mostly used on wood pieces to resemble carving.

Empire: A style inspired by the Napoleonic Empire, 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's mainly applied to 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 top portion contains shelves in graduated sizes.

End Matching: Two adjacent pieces of veneer, which are joined end to end to form a continuous pattern.

English Style: The period distinctions of English furniture are somewhat indefinite owing to the variety of labels according to monarchs, designers, typical woods and external influences. Changes were happening so rapidly that primarily the type of wood used distinguished the boundaries of the English style.

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; very commonly found in home office furnishings such ergonomic chairs for example.

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

Escutcheon: The shaped metal fitting/backing behind a drawer pull or surrounding a keyhole. The term can also apply to a tiny plate that hangs over a keyhole to stop drafts from coming in.

Espagnolettes: A long bolt sometimes found on French windows. It consists of a handle that sends the bolt into the top and bottom of the wall.

Étagère: A freestanding set of open shelves commonly used for displaying accessories.

European Style: Sophisticated style with great attention to detail and ornamentation.

Eyeball Spots: Semi-recessed lights set in the ceiling, which can be adjusted to shine in different directions.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Faceted: Decorative surface cut into sharp-edged planes in a crisscross pattern to reflect light.

Fall Front: The flap of a bureau or secrétaire that pulls down to provide a writing surface.

Fancy-Faced Veneers: Veneers that are cut into exotic patterns, which are usually used in more visible areas of wooden furniture such as door fronts and table tops.

Fanlight: A window, which is usually semi-circular, with radiating glass sections that make it look like an open fan. Commonly found above doors.

Fauteuil: An upholstered French armchair with open sides.

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 trompe l'oeil).

Feather Banding: Two narrow bands of veneer laid in opposite diagonals.

Federal: Design period following the American Revolution and running roughly through the early 1800’s. Federal styles incorporate 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 Blind: Similar to an Austrian blind, but with gathered scallops throughout the length of the blind.

Fiberboard: A board made of compressed wood fibers and glue.

Fiddleback: A backsplat in the shape of a violin (fiddle) that is typically seen on Queen Anne chairs.

Figuring: A pattern made by the natural grain of wood.

Filament Lighting: Light that's produced by heating a small filament inside a bulb, as with a common light bulb.

Filigree: A decorative ornamentation that's often produced with fine wires of gold or silver.

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.

Finger Joint: A joint in which two pieces of wood are cut in an elongated zigzag pattern and joined together with glue.

Finger Plates: Narrow rectangular panels, often made in the same material as the door knob, which are fixed to the door to protect against dirty finger marks.

Finial: A decorative detail that’s carved or shaped to ornament the top of an upright piece such as a bedpost. Finials are 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 bent and laminated (layers of solid wood) woods to create organic, humanistic forms and lightweight open shapes. These designers were also the first to experiment with tubular steel in furniture design.

Flame Stitch: A wavy angular pattern that looks like the 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 more influential that it was an actual period of design. Generally Flemish furniture is associated with the Dutch Renaissance and it differed in many respects due the French influence. Flemish pieces are recognized for elaborate and skilled carving.

Flock Wallpaper: Wallpaper that has a raised fabric pattern.

Fluting: A series of carved out semicircular grooves usually found on columns, molding or wooden legs.

Four Poster: A bed with posts that are tall enough to hold a canopy.

Frame: The wooden framework of an upholstered piece of furniture.

French Classic: This furniture was more of an influence that an actual style. All ornamentation was classic and symmetrical and often featured geometric marquetry. This style was predominant during the mid to late 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 Napoleon and was created at his command. Inspired by classic Greek and Roman design and is considered as grandiose yet dignified. Motifs are symbolic of torches, Roman eagles, empire-wreaths, sphinx, lions and the letter "N" (for Napoleon of course). Tops are of often of marble, curving is minimized, and metal feet are common. 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 early 1700’s. Departs in design from Louis XIV pieces, while maintaining many of the basic forms. Style generally features beautiful 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 the early 1600’s. Influenced by Italian design, although the pieces were smaller in scale than furniture from the Italian Renaissance. Noted for elaborate and skilled carving, progresses in textile manufacturing and the weaving of tapestries. Oak is mainly used on earlier pieces and walnut in the later ones, which are known for excessive decoration.

Fresco: A durable painting technique for walls and ceilings, created by blending water-colors directly into wet plaster.

Fretwork: An open or pierced woodcarving with an oriental influence, primarily used as a decorative element in Chippendale-style furniture.

Frieze: A decorated horizontal band attached or painted along the top of a wall.

Full Grain Leather: A top-grain leather without any corrections or alterations to the natural grain pattern.

Full-Forward Arm: An arm extending continuously from the back to the front of a piece of furniture.

Full Mattress: Commonly referred to as a double mattress, full mattresses measure 54"x75".

Futon: A Japanese-style mattress placed on a folding frame, which can be used as both a seating piece and a bed.

Futon Cover: Basically a giant pillowcase that pulls over a futon mattress, that has a zipper or Velcro-type of closure.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Gadroon Molding: A rounded molding that is carved in convex curves.

Gainsborough Chair: 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.

Gateleg Table: A style of drop-leaf table with leaves that are supported by extra legs that swing out like gates.

Georgian: Elegant design of the 1700’s, which is heavier and more ornate than Queen Anne. Georgian features include elaborately carved cabriole legs, ball and 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.

Gingham: A fabric with a checked pattern that's created by weaving together two different colored yarns.

Glaze: A coloring technique used in the finishing process of furniture to highlight 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: Pieces from this period (late 1100’s to early 1500’s) were straight, large and heavy. Many of these pieces were produced in monasteries, which explains the ornamental carvings of canonical figures. This period produced trestle tables, cupboards and stools. Oak and pine were the primary woods of choice.

Gothic Revival: Style influenced by Gothic and medieval influences popular in the mid-1800s, this style is characterized by lines flowing up to a pointed arch or other architectural features.

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 furniture factories 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 is produced in many styles, with the most popular being the Oak pedestal table.

Grasscloth: A natural fiber wallpaper.

Greek Style: Dating from the 9th century B.C. with Egyptian roots. Characterized by use of bronze animal legs, gilding, encrusted jewels and stones. Used native woods such as olive, yew and cedar. Features include sweeping curves on legs and backs, and centers on couches, chairs, stools, tables, chests and boxes. Usually not highly decorated.

Gueridon: A small rounded topped table or stand, elaborately carved, usually with three legs.

Guimpe: A round or flat braided trim used on upholstered furniture.

Gusset: A narrow panel that's shaped or gathered to give a sense of fullness, such as the side panel of a box shaped cushion for example.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Haitian Cotton: A highly textured woven material with a loose, rolled cotton weft.

Halogen: A light that emits true color characteristics, unlike fluorescent and other lighting that tend to give a room a yellowish cast, halogen's light remains neutral.

Hand: The feel of cloth or leather, the sensation of its textural qualities.

Hand Distressing: Creating a marred surface, which lends an aged look to furniture.

Hand Tied: Coil springs that are attached to the webbing with links and then "hand tied" to each other and the frame to achieve differing amounts of elasticity in the seat. Two, four, and eight way hand ties are commonly used.

Hardwood: Wood derived from trees such as oak, beech, maple, mahogany, and walnut.

Hardwood Frames: Upholstered furniture frames made from hardwoods such as oak or birch. These woods are normally kiln dried and resist splitting.

Harvest Table: A narrow rectangular table that has hinged drop leaves, this design takes up very little space and offers a nice amount of surface area when the leaves are up.

Hassock: Upholstered footstool large enough to be used as seating, often referred to as an ottoman.

Headboard: An upright structure rising above the mattress at the head of the bed.

Heading: The hemmed, stiffened, layered portion on the top of a curtain or drapery.

Hepplewhite: A neo-classic furniture style that followed Chippendale from the late 1700’s to about 1820. It overlaps with Sheraton styles and shares similar elements of restrained design, tapered legs and classical ornamentation like urns and shields.

High Resiliency Foam: A pure foam with a cell structure different from conventional foam which results in more durable and more supportive material. This foam will retain its shape longer.

Highboy: Simply a tall chest of drawers. The style was 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 broken pediment crown. The name comes from the French "haut bois" which means "high wood".

Highlighting: A color-removal technique in the finishing process, which is used to highlight natural grain characteristics.

Hitchcock Chair: A black-painted/finished chair with gold powdered stenciling of fruit and flowers on the backrest, named after its designer (Lambert Hitchcock). Heavily influenced by Sheraton designs.

Hitchcock Style: Style created by Lambert Hitchcock of Connecticut 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.

Huntboard: Designed to be light and portable so it could be moved outdoors. Originally used for serving food and drinks after a hunt.

Hutch: Enclosed cupboard with shelves resting on a solid base such as buffet or desk.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------



Incandescent: The most commonly used household bulb, which emits light through a wire filament.

Inlay: Decorative patterns created with pieces of 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: An illustration or design cut into a surface.

Intarsia: A technique of sinking a decorative design across an entire surface.

International Style: Functional modern furniture style developed 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 of decoration are hallmarks of this design. Popular materials used included chrome and glass.

Iron Bed: Term commonly used to describe beds made of metal that are coated with colored finishes.

Italian Provincial: Loose term applied to furniture of the Italian provinces made during the 1700’s to mid 1800’s. These pieces, although more rustic, copied the elaborate furniture styles of Milan, Venice, Rome and Florence. Later pieces (Late Italian Provincial) were heavily influenced by French design. The pieces feature simplified lines and lack ornate decorations. Very few of these pieces are 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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jabot: The cascading fabric at each side of a swaged valance.

Jacobean: Early 1600’s English furniture style with a medieval appearance and dark finish. Furniture from this period can be very simple or covered with carvings.

Jacquard: Intricate fabrics such as tapestries, brocades and damasks whose patterns are woven with yarns of different colors.

Japanese Style: Japanese domestic usage required little furniture. Chests and cupboards were built in with sliding doors. Usually finished with highly polished lacquer flecked with gold and decorated with fine-scaled flower, animal and landscape motives. Thin mats made of rice 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 an indispensable adjunct to the other furnishings as it could be moved to change the entire aspect of the room. Japanese furniture forms have changed very little for centuries.

Japanning: A technique of painting that requires several coats of heat-hardened lacquer, commonly used in creating chinoiserie designs.

Jute: A plant that's used in natural fiber flooring.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
KD: (See Knocked Down).

Keeled: A sharp edge often found on the corner of cabriole legs, the term "keeled" is used because it resembles the keel of a boat.

Kelim: A flat-woven (not tufted) tapestry rug.

Kick Pleat: An inverted pleat that's usually found at the corner of a flat or box-pleated skirt on a piece of upholstered furniture.

Kiln Dried: Wood that’s dried by a means of controlled heat and humidity in kilns or ovens to specific ranges of moisture content.

King Mattress: A standard king sized mattress that measures 78"x80", often called an Eastern King.

Klismos: Ancient Greek style of chair with saber shaped legs splayed at the front and back. The back legs continue up to support a shoulder-height curved back.

Kneehole Desk: A desk with a recessed central cupboard.

Knife Edged: Loose or attached cushion treatments that use a single horizontal seam or welt in the middle of the cushion’s front edge.

Knocked Down (or KD): Furniture that is sold unassembled or partially assembled.

Knot: In wood, the area where a branch or the limb of a tree appears on the face or edge of a piece, such as knots commonly found in knotty pine furniture.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lacquer: A hard, protective varnish that is applied as a topcoat to furniture.

Ladder Back: Normally a country style of chair with a back that resembles a ladder.

Lambrequin: A cornice that completely frames a window.

Laminate: Any thin material such as wood or plastic that’s glued to the exterior of a cabinet or other surface.

Lap: A joint of two pieces lapping over one another.

Lattice: Crossed wood, iron plate bars, etc.

Lawson: An overstuffed furniture style that has square seat cushions, short squared or rectangular backrests, and high rolled or squared arms. Variations of this style are often referred to as transitional.

Lay Off: To brush an unloaded paintbrush across a wet painted surface to create a smooth as possible finish.

Leather: The hide of an animal used in home furnishings.

Leather Finishing: After dyeing leather, the finishing may include waxing, buffing, waterproofing, etc.

Lectus: A style of daybed or reclining sofa featuring Roman influences.

Library Storage: Drawers, trays, cabinets or racks designed to store cassettes, CD's or video tapes. They often roll or slide out for easy accessibility.

Lifestyle: A term to describe an individual’s expression of life. Lifestyle furniture pieces tend to be casual in nature and simple in design.

Limewash: A finish that's made of slaked lime and water, which is used for whitening outside walls.

Liming: A technique of using liming wax to stain wood a whiteish color.

Lincoln Rocker: An upholstered high back rocker that has an exposed wood frame and padded armrests.

Linen: A type of cloth that’s made of flax, which is woven somewhat loosely allowing more air through. Linen is known for having a generally cool feel.

Linen-Press: A cupboard with shelves for storing linen and clothes.

Linenfold Paneling: A decorative panel that's molded or carved to look like folded cloth.

Lingerie Chest: A tall narrow seven-drawer chest normally used for storing undergarments and lingerie.

Lining Paper: A special type of wallpaper that's used as a base for the decorative paper. Lining paper is often used to cover cracks and other imperfections in a wall.

Loo Table: A large Victorian card or games table.

Loop Back: An oval chair back without arms.

Loose Cover: A throw or fitted cover that goes over a sofa, chair, etc.

Loose Pillow Back: A pillow treatment that can be removed from an upholstered piece of furniture.

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

Louis XIII: Popular during the early 1600’s. This style is mostly straight lined and squared. Prominent features of this design include twisted columns, turned balusters and spiraled legs. Favored decorations include marquetry, inlays, incrustation and elaborate relief carvings. Predominant woods used are walnut, ebony and oak.

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 and more refined. Louis XIV style is larger and more ornate. Louis XV is simpler and features curved lines and some ornamentation. Louis XVI features geometric shapes, straight lines and minimal ornamentation.

Louvered Doors: Doors that are made up of horizontal wooden slats.

Loveseat (or Love Seat): A smaller two-seat version of a sofa, originally associated with the Queen Anne style.

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-like instrument used on many French and English designs. The lyre is used extensively in the chair backs and table supports of Duncan Phyfe.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Manchette: A small upholstered patch or cushion used on an armrest.

Mantel: The shelf above a fireplace. The term is also commonly used to refer to the decorative trim around a fireplace opening.

Marbleizing (or Marbling): Decorative painting/finishing of a surface which is marble like in appearance.

Marlborough Legs: Heavy strait legs used in Chippendale designs and others.

Marquetry: Decorative patterns made of inlays, usually applied to veneered surfaces.

Married: A term referring to an item of furniture that has been made up from two or more associated pieces, usually from the same period/style. Also, a term for upholstered furniture that's normally manufactured in a particular fabric or leather (opposed to a custom or special order covering).

Marshall Unit: Coil springs inserted in separate pockets and joined together to form cushions.

Matchboarding: Form of cladding where long wooden boards are held together with tongue-and-groove joints.

Matelassé: A double-woven fabric with puckered surface effects.

Matte Finish: A finish that’s more flat than shiny.

MDF: Medium density fiberboard; made from compressed particles of wood and used in the construction of furniture.

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 is often referred to today as Spanish Modern. Mediterranean furniture ranges from simply functional to extremely formal. The style is characterized by being built short and squat with ornately turned legs and feet. The hardware used is usually heavy and often burnished. Primary woods used include pecan, chestnut, mahogany and walnut. Mediterranean can often mix with contemporary, country and provincial pieces.

Mission (or Mission Style): A heavy, normally dark finished oak style 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 direct reaction 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 made at a 45-degree angle.

Modern (Moderne or Modernist): A clean streamlined furniture style of 20th century with roots in the German Bauhaus School of design and Scandinavian design. Sometimes referred to as International Style.

Modular: Furniture units that can be rearranged or stacked in different configurations.

Modular Seating: Seating units (usually upholstered), which are easily joined to or arranged with other units to form different seating arrangements.

Mohair: The long, lustrous and strong hair of the Angora goat which is spun into yarns for knitting and fabrics.

Moiré: A fabric with a swirled pattern that resembles water patterns on silk.

Molding: Ornamental shaped strips that are applied to and project from a surface.

Monochrome: A single hue.

Mortise & Tenon: A slot cut into a piece of wood to receive a tenon of another piece of wood to form a joint.

Mosaic Tiles: Colorful natural stone tiles, usually sold in squares.

Motif: A decorative theme, component or element.

Motion Furniture: Reclining sofas, loveseats and chairs with mechanisms that allow the user to extend their legs and, or, lean back.

Mule Chest: A chest with drawers in the base, the forerunner of the chest-of-drawers.

Mullion: The vertical wood between window frames.

Muntons (Muntins, Muttons or Mutons): Dividers over glass panels in windows and china cabinets.

Muslin: A plain-woven cotton, typically used as the under layer on a piece of upholstered furniture, over which the decorative upholstery material is mounted.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nailheads: Decorative brass nails attaching fabric or 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 doesn’t seriously alter the original grain or color of the natural wood. Natural finishes are usually applied with oils, varnishes, and or similar materials.

Natural Grain Leather: A leather with an unaltered grain.

Neo-Classic (or Neoclassicism, Neoclassical Style): A design style that’s elegant and simple, with motifs borrowed from ancient Rome and Greece. This style was widely popular during late 1700’s through the 1800’s and relates to the Sheraton, Hepplewhite, Empire and Federal periods.

Neo-Gothic: Revivals of aspects of Gothic detailing, which took place in the 1700’s and 1800’s. These aspects included Gothic arches and tracery applied to rococo furniture. Later Neo-Gothic styles applied Gothic ornamentation to neoclassical forms.

Nesting Tables: Tables of varying sizes stored one under the other, normally consisting of a set of three.

Neutral Color: Colors such as white, black, gray and tan, 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 drawers that sits by a bed.

Nubuck Leather: A top-grain, aniline dyed leather that’s buffed to create a soft nap. Nubuck leathers are especially vulnerable to stains even if treated with a stain protection product. Not recommend for use where spills are likely to occur.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Occasional Table: General term for small pieces of furniture such as coffee and end tables.

Ogee: A decorative S-shaped molding.

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.

Open Stock: Individual pieces from a furniture grouping that are sold separately.

Ottoman: A low upholstered footstool or seat without arms or back.

Oval Back: The shape of a chair back that's often associated with Hepplewhite designs.

Overlay: A decorative trim piece applied to a flat surface.

Overstuffed Furniture: Upholstered pieces in which the frame is completely and deeply covered by the upholstery with little or no exposed woodwork.

Oxbow: The opposite of a serpentine-curve, they somewhat resemble the curve of an oxbow and are used on the fronts of case pieces

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pad Foot (or Club Foot): A simple foot treatment at the end of a cabriole leg.

Pad Seat: Upholstered furniture built without springs.

Palladian Style: Styling based on designs from the mid 1500’s Italian architect Andrea Palladio. This style features very large and spectacular cornices, pediments and sculptural decorations of scallop shells, eagles, acanthus leaves and other motifs. Windows and columns in this style still carry the Palladian name today.

Panel: Normally a thin flat piece of wood or similar 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.

Papier (or Paper Mache): Material that’s made from paper pulp and molded into various products, which is suitable to be painted and varnished when dry.

Parquet: Wood flooring that’s usually laid in blocks with boards at angles to each other to form decorative patterns.

Parquetry: Furniture that’s inlaid with geometrical designs similar to parquet floors.

Parsons Leg: A relatively long fully upholstered leg, such as those found on a parsons chair.

Parsons Table: A simple squared table with legs and apron of equal widths. The name is derived from the Parsons School of Design where the table was developed during the 1950’s.

Pastel: A light, soft color.

Patina: A luster or sheen that develops with use over time, usually associated with fine antiques, vintage furniture and leather.

Pattern: The decorative or ornamental design of a fabric, veneers, etc.

Pattern Repeat: The interval between the repetition of the same pattern.

Pedestal: The supporting base for a table, vase, sculpture, etc.

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

Pedestal Table: A table that’s supported by a single center base or column.

Pediment: An ornamental crest running across the top of tall piece such as a highboy, curio, grandfather clock, etc.

Pegged Furniture: Early joined furniture constructed by a system of slots and tenons, held together by dowels.

Pelmet: A wooden or fabric edging used to conceal the top edge of a curtain or blind.

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

Pencil-Post Bed: A bed with four slender posts generally rising from six to eight feet in height. The design is normally very simple with straight lines. These beds can be used alone or with a canopy.

Pennsylvania Dutch: Produced through the late 1600’s to mid 1800’s by German families settled around New York and Pennsylvania. They were commonly miscalled Dutch for "Deutsch". The styling is simple with a sense of rustic utilitarianism and is normally squared with minimal rounding or turning. Decorations predominately include paintings of flowers, fruit, animals, human motifs and German script. Most popular woods were walnut, maple, fruitwoods and pine.

Percale: A finely woven cotton fabric that’s usually used for bedding.

Pickling (or Pickled Finish): A term for a piece of wood that's been limed. Also a method of painting furniture and then wiping off the paint before it has completely dried leaving some on the edges.

Picture Rail: A molding that runs along the top of the wall a short distance from the ceiling, from which pictures are hung with hooks.

Piecrust Table: A round occasional table on a three-legged pedestal base that features an ornamented edging resembling a crimped piecrust.

Pier Glass: A large window height mirror suspended above a table.

Pier Group: Normally two tall, narrow chests (pier cabinets) which sit on either side of a bed that are joined by a headboard assembly often consisting of a mirror, or shelves and light bridge.

Piercing: A cutout or carved decorative detail seen in chair splats and other furniture originating from the 1700’s.

Pigmented Leather: A leather finished with a pigmented coating for consistency of color and texture. Pigments may be used to cover imperfections in the hide, as well as to add protection.

Pilaster: A flattened column-like detail applied to furniture such as bookcases, grandfather clocks, etc. for decorative purposes.

Pillow Top Mattress: A mattress with extra foam and padding on top of the mattress. Better quality pillow tops will have the pillow top on both sides of the mattress. There are also fake pillow tops that do not have extra foam or padding.

Pinch Pleats: Where individual drapery pleats are equally divided into smaller pleats and sewn together at the bottom of the pinched pleats.

Pineapple: A carving detail commonly used on 19th century furniture (and reproductions) as a symbol of hospitality.

Piping (or Welting): A cord wrapped in fabric, which is used to trim upholstery seams and places where the fabric meets with exposed wood.

Platform Base: Three, or four, cornered flat table bases supporting a central pedestal and standing on scrolled or paw feet.

Platform Bed: A bed whose base consists of a raised, flat horizontal surface meant to support a mattress.

Plinth: The base of a chest or other furniture that rests on the floor, opposed to sitting on legs.

Plush: Fabric in a velvet weave with a long pile.

Plywood: Layers of wood attached in a cross grain method to assist in preventing the contraction and swelling of wood surfaces from humidity changes in the air.

Poly Dacron Wrap: A cushion construction method in which a soft resilient polyester material is wrapped around a polyurethane foam core.

Polyester Batting: A synthetic fiber wadded into rolls or sheets used for stuffing furniture and mattresses.

Polyurethane Foam: A synthetic material used for cushions in upholstered furniture; better upholstered pieces use high-density polyurethane foam.

Portieres: Hinged metal curtain poles from which a curtain is hung to eliminate drafts.

Post-Modernism: A reaction against Modernism that began during the 1950's and promoted the reintroduction of bright colors and decorative components.

Pressboard: A strong, high density board used for case backs, dust proofing or as the underlying structural base for veneers or vinyl wrap. Also known as composition board or particle board.

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

Prints: A fabric with a pattern. The term is also applied to lithographed reproductions of original paintings, drawings, etc.

Provincial: Furniture from the hinterlands inspired by designs from the major centers of a country, which have been adapted to local tastes, materials and ways of living.

Pull-Up Leather: A full grain, aniline dyed leather that is oiled or waxed. When pulled, the oils or waxes cause the coloring to migrate and become lighter in the pulled areas. A look commonly associated with quality leather.

Pure Aniline Leather: A top-grain leather that’s aniline dyed and receives no additional coloring. Also called full aniline.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 is elegant and characterized by graceful curved lines such as cabriole legs and broken scroll pediments.

Queen Mattress: The mattress size between a full (or double) and a king. Queen mattresses measure 60"x80".

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rabbet Joint: A joint formed by fitting together boards into which rectangular grooves have been cut.

Ragging Off: A paint effect caused by rubbing/wiping a painted surface with a rag or piece of leather.

Rail: The horizontal piece running across the top of a chair back.

Rail Joints: The places where the horizontal members of an upholstered frame meet.

Railroaded: A fabric that's been applied with warp (length) running horizontally across the piece of furniture and from front to back along the arms.

Rake: The angle or slant of a non-vertical furniture leg.

Ready-Mades: Standard sized draperies that are factory-made.

Récamier: An elegant sofa or chaise popularized in the Victorian and Empire eras. Often called fainting couches.

Receding Colors: Colors that appear more distant, such as blue, gray or bluish-greens.

Reclining Chair: A chair or rocker that reclines back.

Reclining Furniture: Furniture that has a mechanical system allowing the user to adjust into a reclining position.

Reeding: Basically the reverse of fluting in which beaded lines are projected onto a surface.

Refectory Table: A narrow long table design that was originally used in the dining rooms of religious orders.

Regal: Generically, a traditional furniture style characterized by majestic forms. Many especially European furniture styles are further characterized by the name of the specific monarch or monarchical dynasty during the style's time period, such as William and Mary and Tudor.

Régence Style: Spanned from about 1715 to 1723, when France was ruled by a regent. This style of design was a transition from massive straight lines to graceful curves.

Regency: Neoclassical style of British furniture popular during the first half of the 1800’s. This style spawned adaptations and true reproductions of Greek and Roman furniture and coincided with Directoire and Empire styles in France.

Relief: Any sculptural ornamentation raised above its surface or background.

Renaissance Style: This movement began in Italy in the 13th century and continued through the 17th century. It often features ornamentation inspired by Michelangelo and Raphael. The furniture is true to the purpose of the piece and often incorporates mythological or biblical figures. Walnut is often the wood of choice.

Rep: A plain-woven fabric that has a heavy filler thread, which creates a corded effect.

Reproduction: New furniture that’s a copy of an antique style or period.

Republic: A variation of the Federal style.

Restorations: Antiques or collectibles that have been brought back to their original condition through reconstruction, refinishing, and/or the replacement of parts. Restoring a significant piece can considerably decrease its value, which is important to consider before doing, or when buying an item that may have been restored.

Retro: A contemporary retrospective view, which reinterprets some of the best-loved looks from the 1930's to 1980's. The mood of these pieces is playful and ironic. The classics have extra emotional punch because you recognize such items as exaggerated Hollywood sofas, 1950's boomerang tables or wacky 70's chairs.

Return: The piece of an L-shaped desk that is perpendicular to the main desk unit, which provides extra working or computer space.

Revival: Reproductions of classic American styles from the 1700’s, although not always accurate in detail. Revival pieces were popular from the late 1800’s through the early 1900’s. Also known as just "Revival".

Ribbon Back: A chair with a back resembling entwined ribbon.

Rice Carved Posters: Tall heavy bedposts that are carved with decorative details such as rice or tobacco plants. They are symbolic of the wealth of plantation owners in northern Georgia and the Carolinas where the style originated.

Rietveld Style: In the early 20th century, Rietveld style grew from the Dutch Arts and Crafts movement with a strong Frank Lloyd Wright influence. Machined forms and manmade materials figured in this style, which sought to preserve the integrity of Arts and Crafts while embracing the modern world.

Rocaille: An ornament style from the Rococo Period consisting of an abstract shell or leaf motif.

Rococo: A very elaborate style of European design originating in France during the early 1700’s.

Rococo Revival: A very ornate Victorian style originally popular in the mid 1800’s, which is best known for elaborately carved rosewood parlor furniture, balloon-backed chairs and triple-crested sofas.

Rod Pocket: The hollow space in the top or bottom of a curtain through which the rod is inserted.

Roll Top Desk: A desk with a slatted panel front that rolls down to hide its writing surface.

Rolled Arms: Arms appearing to have ruffled effect that flare out and down, and return to meet the sides of a sofa or chair.

Roman Shade: A tailored fabric window shade that folds sideways.

Romanesque: Early medieval furniture with crude Roman influences. Characterized by arches and curves, simple geometric arrangements, coarsely rendered animal and plant forms, and painted in decorative hues. Found throughout Europe, the Romanesque style preceded Gothic and Renaissance styles.

Ruching: A narrow gathered/pleated strip of decorative fabric.

Ruffled Pleat (Sheer Pleat): A skirt treatment in which fabric is gathered to achieve a ruffled effect.

Rule Joint: A knuckle joint as between a table top and drop leaf that leaves no open space when the leaf is down.

Runner: A rocking chairs curved rocker, the piece that allows the chair to rock.

Rush Seat: A seat that’s woven with a series of rushes.

Rush Seat Chair: Traditionally a rustic American or French chair with woven rush seats.

Russian Style: The Russian style is a blending of styles from throughout Europe. The production of metal furniture can be considered a purely "Russian" phenomenon since the production of metal furniture was not found elsewhere in Europe at the time.

Rustic: Simple style typical of country life, more recently the term has been applied to rustic southwestern furniture.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Saber Leg: A leg that has a saber-like curve.

Sabot: A French term for the gilt-bronze "shoe" at the bottom of furniture legs.

Saddle Seat: A wooden chair seat which has been hollowed to the sides and back to resemble the pommel of a saddle.

Sateen: A cotton fabric that’s made to mimic satin with a smooth silky finish on one side.

Sauvage: A two-toned or contrasting color effect applied to leather furniture.

Scale: The size of an object, or comparisons between a drawing size and the actual size of a piece.

Scalloped: A curved case piece ornamentation, commonly in the shape of a scallops shell.

Scandinavian: At the 1930 Stockholm Exhibition and the 1939 World's Fair in New York, the larger world was first exposed to the simple, clean, and lightweight forms of Scandinavian furniture. Quality craft combined with mass production where appropriate are hallmarks of the style. Bent plywood is a commonly used material.

Scatter-Back Sofa: A sofa with back loose back cushions that can be rearranged.

Sconce: A light fixture fixed on a wall. Commonly sconces are tall and narrow and are often made to hold a candle.

Scoop Seat: A wooden chair seat that has been hollowed out to fit the body.

Scrolls: Scrolls are the supportive and decorative members shaped like a scroll or curl which are connected to posts, rails, and each other on many brass (especially traditional) headboards and footboards.

Seat Rail: The framework that supports the seat of a chair and holds the legs together.

Secondary Color: Orange, green, and violet are secondary colors.

Secrétaire à Abattant: A type of writing cabinet with a fall front and resting on a chest-of-drawers or small cupboard.

Secretary (or Secrétaire): A drop-leaf desk normally sitting on a base of drawers, usually with slots and cubbyholes for organizing papers.

Sectional: Similar to a sofa but in several sections. Sectionals may be curved or straight and have two, one or no arms. The sections may be used in combination or in some cases separately.

Self Storing Leaves: Leaves that store within an extension table.

Semenier: A tall narrow seven-drawer chest, the term is often used in reference to a lingerie or similar type of chest.

Semi-Aniline Leather: A top grain leather that is aniline dyed and coated with matching pigment and, or, other topical finishes to add protection and even out the color. Also commonly referred to as aniline-plus or protected aniline.

Serpentine: Two curves reminiscent of a serpent's movement; commonly found on fronts or tops of case pieces.

Serpentine Front: A waving curve on the front of a desk or chest.

Serving Table: A long narrow table with drawers for items such as silver and linens.

Settee: A long seat or bench with a back and arms that can seat two or more people, originally popular in the 1600’s.

Set-Back Arm: An arm that is set back from the front edge of the seat.

Settle: A wooden bench with a high back and solid arms, often featuring drawers or a hinged seat that covers storage space, originally brought to America by the pilgrims.

Shaker: A simplistic furniture design including features such as straight, tapered legs, and woven-strap chair seats. Style originated in the mid 1770’s from an American religious sect (Shakers). The Shaker style is renowned for exceptional design and craftsmanship combined with functionality and beauty.

Sham: Historically a cover that laid on top of a pillow, today the sham is a decorative cover that fully encases the pillow.

Sheaf-Back Chairs: Chairs with spindled backs that come together in the middle-back through a piece of wood and flare out again to the bottom of the chair; the style resembles a sheaf of wheat.

Shellac: A resinous varnish obtained from the lac insect and used in japanning.

Sheraton: A formal style of design that developed from Hepplewhite, Sheraton features include delicate straight lines, tapered legs that are usually turned opposed to being square and skilled inlay and veneer work.

Shield Back: A chair with a back shaped like a shield.

Shirring: A method of gathering wide fabric along both long sides to create a soft effect. Often used to emphasize the curve of a sofa or other upholstered piece.

Shoe: A projecting piece rising from the back rail of a chair seat into which the base of the splat is fixed.

Shoji Screen: A freestanding Oriental style screen, often used as a room divider.

Side Chair: Term normally used to refer to an armless dining chair or a small-scale, armless chair designed to stand against a wall when not in use.

Sideboard: A serving piece with drawers and, or, open shelves for displaying plates, crystal, silver, etc.

Sinuous Springs: Also known a "S coils" and "Zigzag wire". Sinuous springs are used in place of coil spring units in upholstered pieces such as sofas.

Sisal: A natural, durable fiber that’s frequently used in rugs.

Size (Sizing): A solution used as a finisher for fabrics, which stiffens the surface and helps protect against wear.

Skirt: A piece of fabric at the bottom of a sofa, love seat or chair that hangs in a way resembling a woman's skirt. On case-goods the term refers to the panel connecting the surface and legs of a table or chair.

Slat Back: An early American chair incorporating horizontal slats.

Sleeper (or Hide-A-Bed): A sofa, loveseat, or chair that converts into a bed. Also available in some sectionals.

Sleigh Bed: An American adaptation of a popular French Empire design. Sleigh beds have a high scrolled headboard and footboard resembling the front of a sleigh.

Slip Match: An effect produced by slipping sheets of veneer side-by-side to form patterns, such as diamond, sunburst, herringbone and checkerboard.

Slip Seat: A removable upholstered chair seat.

Slipcover: A fabric cover used on cushions, or on complete upholstered pieces such as sofas and chairs.

Slipper Chair: A low armless upholstered chair, often featuring a skirt.

Slub: An uneven section in a yarn which gives fabric a rough texture.

Sofa: A long upholstered seating piece with a back and arms, which can seat three or more people.

Sofa Table: A table normally used behind a sofa or loveseat that has been positioned away from the wall or that’s in the middle of a room.

Soft Wood: Wood from a conifer trees such as pine and cedar.

Southwestern: Contemporary style which is highly influenced by Native American Indian traditions. Light-colored woods, light and bright color palettes, rich patterns and desert scenery characterize the style.

Spade Foot: A tapered to the base leg design, usually found in Hepplewhite styles.

Spanish Renaissance: Style during the 1500’s to 1700’s, which had a strong Moorish influence. Can be easily used with other Renaissance styles. Features of this style include elaborately carved wood surfaces, inlays in Moorish patterns and large ornate brass nails or studding. Bright red or green leather was typically used for upholstery. The most common wood used for these pieces were oak and cedar.

Spattering: Painting effect created by flicking a brush with wet paint.

Spindle: A slender turned and shaped column, which often swells out in the lower half and is usually used in rows such as the back of a Windsor chair.

Spiral Leg: A leg that’s carved, or turned, into the shape of a rope twist or spiral.

Splat: A flat, vertical piece in the middle of an open chair back, which is often carved or ornamented.

Splayed Leg: A leg that slants outward from a piece of furniture.

Split Leather: The bottom layers of the hide, which have been split from the top-grain leather and then pigmented or sueded.

Split-Back Sofa: A sofa that's made with vertical seamed indentations in the back, which usually divides the surface in three.

Spooning: A curved chair back designed to fit the sitter's form. Common on Queen Anne chairs.

Spring Down: A type of cushion constructed of coil springs, which are wrapped in polyurethane and covered with down batting.

Spring Edge: An upholstered seats front edge that's supported by springs rather than the frame.

Springs: The most commonly used springs for upholstered furniture are coil springs and sinuous springs.

Squab Cushion: A loose flat cushion on the seat of a chair.

Stacking: The wall or window area that's required for draperies when they are completely opened.

Staining: The step in the finishing process where coloring (stain) is applied to a piece of wood furniture.

Steam Bend: A method of bending a single piece of wood (bowback chair, bowed splat, etc.) into a furniture part.

Stenciling: Method of creating patterns by covering an area of a surface and applying color to the uncovered area.

Stickley: Furniture designed and built by Gustav Stickley who pioneered the American Arts and Crafts movement, also known as Mission style, which is known for clean straight lines and durability.

Straight-Back Sofa: A sofa style with the back top being straight, narrow arms extend forward. Some variations have set-back arms and T-cushions for the seat.

Stretcher: A horizontal brace in an H or X shape connecting the legs of a table or chair. Often decorated with carving or turning.

Style: The decorative design of an object, room, home, etc.

Suede: A leather that's produced from a fresh split hide, which has a velvet like nap.

Suite: A complete matched set of furniture, such as a bedroom suite.

Sussex Chair: A chair with an ash frame and rush seat, based on a traditional country design.

Swag: A fabric that's draped in a looped garland effect or any imitation of the same.

Swan-Neck Handle: A curved handle popular in the 1700's.

Swing Leg: A hinged table leg (as in a gate leg) which swings out to support a drop leaf.

Swivel Chair: A chair that swivels, such as a swivel office chair or swivel recliner.

Symmetrical: A formal, mirror-image balance in design or decorating

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Table Ambulante: A French term for a small, portable occasional table.

Table Lamp: A freestanding lamp designed to be placed on a surface such as an end table or nightstand.

Table Runner: A narrow decorative strip of fabric running down the middle of a dining table.

Tabouret: A stool or small seat that can also be used as a stand.

Taffeta: A fine plain-woven fabric that's smooth on both sides.

Tailored Upholstery: A furniture frame which has fabric fitted and permanently attached.

Tallboy: A tall chest with a larger chest of drawers that supports a slightly smaller chest.

Tambour Desk: A roll-top desk’s flexible draw-down cover made of "tambours," which is made up of a succession of narrow strips of flat wood glued to a stiff backing such as canvas.

Tapered Leg: A leg that becomes incrementally smaller towards the bottom.

Tapestry: Traditionally a "heavy" woven fabric featuring decorative designs or pictures to be hung on a wall. Today, the term commonly refers to highly decorative fabrics with a woven design.

Tea Table: A small portable table, which is frequently used in place of a coffee table. Traditionally the top has raised edges like a tray and side pullouts for candles.

Teapoy: A small piece of freestanding furniture designed for holding tea.

Tee Cushion (or T-Cushion): A loose seat cushion with the outside front edges extending laterally in front of the arm of an upholstered piece.

Tertiary Color: Color created by mixing of two secondary colors.

Tester: A wooden frame for supporting draperies or a canopy at the top of a poster bed.

Three-Way Switch: A type of switch commonly found on lamps that allows three different degrees or levels of light.

Throw: A lightweight fabric item meant to be used as a light blanket or as a decorative element commonly placed at the foot of a bed or draped over the back of a sofa. Throws usually measure about 64" x 72" in size.

Thrown Chair: A chair constructed from turned pieces of wood.

Thumbpiece: A flange attached to a hinged lid, which when pressed by the thumb raises the lid.

Tieback: A decorative fabric, cord or metal hook used to hold a drapery open.

Tight-Back Sofa: A sofa with a back that is totally smooth with no indentations.

Tight Seat: Upholstered furniture which has the fabric pulled directly over the springs, with layer of padding in between, and padding over the springs.

Tilt Top: A small occasional table with a hinged top that can stand vertically when not in use.

Toile (Toile De Jouy): A plain-woven cotton fabric printed with a repeat pattern of country settings, animals, people or other objects printed on a solid background of one color in another color.

Tongue & Groove (or Matching): Wood pieces that join on edge with a groove in one piece and a corresponding tongue on the other to interlock. Commonly used on furniture doors for example.

Top Grain Leather: The uppermost layer of a hide, which is the highest quality part of the hide and the most preferred for leather upholstery.

Torchiere: A floor lamp that directs light upward from a reflective bowl or inverted cone shade.

Traditional: Traditionally styled furniture is available in both original antique pieces and quality reproductions. This type of furniture usually follows a particular period style such as Georgian, Tudor, Regency or Louis XV.

Transitional: A style of design that blends influences from various style categories.

Traverse Drapery: A drapery that opens or closes across a window by means of the traverse rod from which it is hung.

Trestle Table: A long narrow table with two T-shaped uprights that are joined by a single stretcher for added support.

Tri-fold Mirror (or Tri-View): A mirror that sits on or hangs above a dresser and features a center mirror panel and two mirrored side panels that produce three images of the person looking in the mirror.

Tripod Table: A small table with a round top supported by a three-legged pillar, originally made for serving tea.

Triptych: A large three-part hinged mirror, panel, or screen.

Trompe l'oeil: French term meaning "fool the eye". Trompe l’oeil is usually a two-dimensional painting designed to look like a three-dimensional object or scenery.

Trundle Bed: A low bed that can be rolled under another bed for storage when not in use.

Tudor-Elizabethan: This phase of the English renaissance covered the 1500’s on up to about 1603. Furniture shapes are straight and stiff (like Gothic), and feature elaborate carving and decoration. All pieces of this style are massive and normally constructed of oak.

Tufting & Buttoning: A method of securing the filling of an upholstered piece of furniture by pulling stitches through the material and securing them to the frame. The evenly spaced tufting is then finished with buttons, which are usually upholstered.

Turning: The lathing to shape table and chair legs, etc.

Tuxedo: A sofa or chair design with a square frame created by the arm and back rests being equal in height.

Tuxedo Arms: Arms found on upholstered pieces that are slightly flared and are the same height as the back.

Twill: A fabric that is diagonally ribbed, therefore a strong weave.

Twin Mattress: A mattress made for one person, sometimes called a single. Twin mattresses measure 38"x75".

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Under-Drapery: A lightweight, usually a sheer drapery that hangs behind the heavier over-drapery.

Upholstery: Furniture such as sofas and chairs covered in fabric, vinyl, leather or other materials.

Uprights: The outer vertical posts of a chair.

Urethane Foam (Polyurethane): Flexible polyurethane foam is used as a cushioning material in upholstered furniture seats, backs and arms. For seat cushioning, foams that have a density of 1.8 pounds per cubic foot or higher offer the best support and durability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Valance: A horizontal feature used as a header for draperies, which can be made of fabric, wood, metal or other materials.

Value: The lightness or darkness of a color.

Vase: A decorative container of urn, commonly used for flowers.

Velvet: A luxurious fabric that is soft in texture and features a thick pile.

Veneer: Thin sheets of wood applied to a furniture surface to create decorative inlay patterns of wood grain.

Venetian Blind: A window treatment consisting of a series of horizontal slats that can be turned or raised to control light or privacy.

Verdigris: A greenish blue patina that forms on copper, brass, or bronze surfaces. Faux verdigris (or verdi) finishes area common on the metal work of coffee tables, etc.

Vertically Run: A fabric that's been applied with the warp threads (bolt length) running top to bottom over the furniture's back, front and arms.

Victorian: A furniture style named after England's Queen Victoria, which was very popular through the latter half of the 1800’s. Victorian furniture was usually constructed of mahogany, walnut and rosewood in dark finishes, which were often highlighted with elaborate carved floral designs. Common elements of this style include oval chair backs and marble tops on tables and dressers.

Vinyl Wrap: Flexible vinyl wrapping applied to underlying wood solids or particleboard to produce a surface that most often resembles wood.

Vitrine: A china or curio cabinet with a glass-front for displaying collectibles or other fine pieces.

Voile: A sheer lightweight fabric used to make sheets, pillows, shams, duvet covers, and draperies for canopy beds.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wainscot Chair: Early jointed chair with a paneled back, open arms, and wood seat.

Wainscoting: An application of wood molding up to the middle or lower half of a wall.

Wall Units: Large free-standing or wall hung units which can have drawers, shelves, cabinets, desks, entertainment centers or other features.

Wardrobe: A tall upright cabinet with a door or doors. Designed for storing clothing.

Warp (or Weft): The yarns running lengthwise in a piece of fabric, i.e., perpendicular to the woof (or welt).

Webbing: Interwoven strips of material attached to a frame; used for support in upholstery pieces in place of traditional spring systems.

Wellington Chest: A tall, narrow, relatively plain type of chest named after the Duke of Wellington.

Welting (or Piping): A cord wrapped in fabric, which is used to trim upholstery seams and places where the fabric meets with exposed wood.

Whatnot: A mobile stand/cart with open shelves.

William & Mary: This style is named after the 17th century English King and Queen. This style came to America in the early 1700’s. Common pieces of this style included high-backed upholstered armchairs, highboys, lowboys, etc. The elements of this design include features such as curved lines, marquetry, bun or ball feet, inlay and oriental lacquer-work.

Windsor Chair: A style of wooden chair originating in the early 1700’s, which is still very popular today that features a spindle back shaped in fans, hoops or combs. This style was named for Windsor Castle but gained true popularity in America. Woods used included birch, pine, hickory, ash, maple and oak.

Wing Chair (Wing-Back Chair): A high backed upholstered chair featuring rolled arms and wing shaped protrusions that extend over the arms at the head level.

Woof: The yarns running crosswise on a piece of woven fabric that interlace with the warp (or weft).

Worm Holes: Small holes found in wood, considered a defect in many instances and a character-providing element in others such as rustic furniture pieces.

X-Chair: An "X" shaped folding chair. X-chairs date back to ancient Roman times.

Yorkshire Chair: An oak chair featuring turned front legs and stretchers.

Zigzag: A molding or stitching with a series of frequent sharp turns from side to side.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------