Furniture Terms N to Z

NESTED TABLES Three or four identical lightweight tables sized from small to largest, each one nesting under the next, NIELLO The art of decorating metal plates by incising designs on them and filling incised lines with alloy. NULLING A projecting detail of a carved ornament, similar to gadrooning. OBJET D'ART A small object of artistic value. OCCASIONAL TABLE A term applied loosely to any small table, OGEE A gepound curve, the directions of which are opposite to those of the Cyma curve. ONLAY Ornament applied to the surfaces of woods or other kinds of material. OPEN STOCK Individual pieces which can be sold separately or grouped (correlated) to form sets to the buyer's taste. ORMOLU A metal resembling gold. Used as mounts and decorative effects on furniture. OTTOMAN Low upholstered seat, without arms or back, used as a footstool. OVOLO A continuous ornament - In the form of an egg which generally decorates the molding called quarter-round. Eggs are often separated from one another by pointed darts. OXBOW, OXBOW FRONT Often used in the finest 18th century New England case furniture such as chests of drawers, secretaries, etc. PALMETTE A carved or painted ornament resembling a palm leaf; an anthemion. PAPIER MACHE Molded paper pulp used for many small articles and particularly suitable for japanning and polishing. PARQUETRY Furniture inlaid with a geometrical cube design in the manner of a parquet floor. PATERA A dish like ornament often worked in bas-relief on a frieze. PATINA A surface texture produced by age, wear or rubbing. PEDESTAL TABLE A table on a round center support. PEDIMENT The space or structure above a cornice. The classic pediment, seen in the conventional Greek temple, was triangular in shape. It is found on the tops of secretaries and grandfather's clocks, usually as a broken pediment. PEMBROKE TABLE A long square-sided table with oval or square ends, the leaves at the side of which drop almost to the floor. Named for Lady Pembroke. In a matched or parallel series. PENDANT A hanging ornament, usually. PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH The name applies to German settlers in Pennsylvania. Their furniture is distinctive since their cabinet makers worked in soft woods, which they painted and often decorated with floral patterns and other motifs from the vocabulary of peasant design. PIE CRUST TABLE A table so named because the edge is finished off in a series of serpentines or curves, as cooks crimp the edges of a pie. PIER GLASS Large, window-height mirror suspended above a table between two windows. PINEAPPLECarved pineapple-shaped ornament found frequently in early 19th century American bed posts. PINNACLEA carved ornament at the top or crest of a piece of furniture. PLAQUE A flat, thin ornament, usually made of metal or porcelain and inserted into wood. PLINTH Square or octagonal base of a chest or other column, solid to the floor. Primarily, a stand for a plant, sculpture, or other 3-dimensional item. PlLASTER Flat column superimposed on any plain surface to serve as a support for a cornice or a pediment. POPPY-HEAD Decorative finial of a bench or desk end as in ecclesiastical woodwork. PORTIERE A curtain hung in a doorway. POUDRESSE Small table with mirrored lid covering space for cosmetics. PRESS Broadly, a tall, enclosed, and doored structure geparable to a wardrobe. PRIE-DIEU CHAIR A high-backed chair of Italian origin with a narrow shelf, rail or pad upon which the user may rest his arms while kneeling in the seat. PULL-UP CHAIRA term for a small light arm chair. Sometimes called an occasional chair. QUATREFOIL An ornamental figure, foliation, perforation or panel divided by cusps, or featherings, into four foils, leaves or lobes. QUIRK A narrow groove channel molding sometimes called a sunken fillet. RAIL The horizontal piece in framing or paneling. In a chair back the top member supported on the stiles. RAKE The angle or slant of a chair back or of a non-vertical table leg. RECLINING CHAIR An upholstered chair or rocker that reclines. REEDING The reverse of fluting. A decoration consisting of parallel lines formed by beaded mountings projecting from the surface. Sheraton, Adam and Phyfe used it.REFECTORY TABLE A long, narrow table originally used in dining rooms of religious orders. It was later shortened in length and provided with underleaves. RELIEF Any ornamentation raised above the surface or background. RESTORATION A proper renewal of a piece by a candid replacement of hopelessly damaged or missing parts. RIBBAND-BACK A chair with an entwined ribbon motif ornament. RINCEAU A classic ornamental device geposed of intertwining stalks of acanthus or other foliage. RISING SUN When a fan-shaped ornament is carved half -circle and the resulting spray of stalks suggest sunrays. ROCOCO A style of decoration distinguished by a profusion of meaningless, but often delicately executed, ornaments in imitation of rock work, shells, foliage and massed scrolls. ROLL- TOP DESK Similar to a cylinder-top desk but the writing table and fittings are enclosed by a curved slatted panel. ROMANESQUE Decorative scroll work or other intricate ornamentation derived from triangles, circles and other geometric figures. It sprang from the round arch and general massiveness of Romance architecture and reached its highest form in the 12th century. ROMAYNE Renaissance ornamentation featured by human heads on medallions. ROSME An ornament resembling the rose. A painted or sculptured architectural ornament with parts circularly arranged like rows of leaves in a circle around a bud. ROUNDABOUT CHAIR Corner chair with triangle front and usually a circular back. ROUNDEL Circular ornament enclosing sundry formal devices on medieval and later woodwork. RUNNER The curved rocker of a rocking chair. Once made solely of wood but now largely of metal. RUSH SEAT A seat woven of rushes. Used in America from the earliest times, generally with simple furniture. SABRE LEG A term used to describe a sharply curving leg in the classical style which has also been called scroll shaped. It is generally reeded. SADDLE SEAT A chair seat hallowed out to resemble a saddle. SALTIRE A straight, X-shaped stretcher used on chairs or tables. SAWBUCK TABLE A table with an X-shaped frame either plain or scrolled. SCALLOP A carved ornament in the shape of a shell used widely on rococo pieces. SCONCE A general name for a wall-light consisting of a back plate and either a tray or branched candleholders, usually metal. SCOOP SEAT A chair with a seat which has been hallowed or formed to fit the body. SCROLL A spiral or convoluted line used for ornamentation. SCROLL FOOT A foot in the form of a spiral line; not fully articulated with part above it.SECRETARY A drop front desk, often with book shelves above and drawers below. SEGMENTALA less than semicircular, unbroken pediment with an abruptly ending curve. SEIGNORIAL CHAIRAn imposing highback seat for the master of a house. SERPENTINE FRONT Front of a gemode, desk or bureau shaped in a waving curve. SERRATED A saw tooth or zigzag ornament that is one form of a notched dentil. SERVING TABLE A long, narrow table with drawers for silver, napery and crystal. SETTEE A long ornately carved 17th century seat or bench with a high back and often with arms. Today, usually length of a love seat. SETTLE Colonial all wood bench or settee with solid arms. The pilgrims brought it from England. SHAKER FURNITURE This furniture, while provincial, is of such sheer simplicity, so pure in line, so lean and functional in form, so well proportioned and soundly constructed, that it is much prized today. Made by the early 19th century Shakers, it is usually in pine, maple, walnut or fruitwoods. SHIELD BACK A chair back shaped like a shield. SIDEBOARD A dining room piece, with a long flat top and a superstructure, equipped with drawers. SKIRT A wood or fabric flounce at bottom of a furniture piece. SLANT - FRONT DESK A frame or chest of drawers with a top section as an enclosed desk for writing, the hinged lid sloping at a 45-degree angle when closed. SLAT BACK Type of back, used in early American chairs and settees, geposed of horizontal slats attached to back parts. SLEEPY HOLLOW CHAIR Large upholstered chair with hollowed seat, high back and solid low arms. SLIP-SEAT A removable upholstered seat for a chair, used especially in dining and light pull-up chairs. SOFA The sofa was first introduced into Italy in the late 17th century. I n fact, many Italian and early French sofas resembled a row of chairs joined together. Long sofas with carved wooded backs, and usually rush seats, were popular in the 18th century. SOFA TABLE A small, narrow, rectangular table with two front drawers in the apron and hinged leaves at each end. First made in America about 1800. More recently, a narrow table to be placed alongside the back of sofa. SPADE FOOT A rectangularly shaped tapered foot resembling a spade. SPANDREL An arch form bounded by a horizontal and vertical frame such as was used by Sheraton in some chair backs. SPINDLE A slender turned baluster, often tapered or molded. SPINET DESK A writing desk designed after a small musical instrument of the colonial period. When the instrument wore out, the keyboard was removed and the cabinet used as a writing desk, for which the recessed space, formerly housing the keys, was happily adapted. SPLAT The central member of a chair back, also called a splad. SPLAYED A pitched spread or slant; a surface canted outward, beveled or angled. SPLINT SEAT A seat made of oak or hickory strips interlaced. Used in furniture through the 18th century. SPlRAL LEG A leg carved in the shape of a rope twist or a spiral. SPOOL BEAD A continuous turning having the form of a series of connected beads. SPOON BACK A chair back which is spooned or shaped to fit contours of human body. STAMPS Various names and letters are often found stamped on French furniture made in the 18th century or later. These stamps are a most important means of identifying the makers of individual pieces of furniture. STEP TABLE A table resembling a one-step stair gemonly used at the end of a sofa. The top shelf being shorter and higher. STRAPWORK A narrow band folded, crossed, and sometimes interlaced. Also an ornament consisting of a narrow band in convolutions similar to those of a leather strap thrown at hazard. STRAW-WORK A method of decorating furniture with tiny strips of bleached and colored straws to form landscapes, geometrical patterns, etc. in the 17th century. STRETCHER The underbracing of chairs and tables taking and H or X - diagonal - form. STRIPPING Removing the old surface or finish from a piece of furniture. SUITE A geplete set of matched furniture. SWAG A festoon of flowers, fruit or draperies resembling a garland. SWING LEG A hinged or folding leg used to support the drop leaf of a table. SWIVEL CHAIR A chair which revolves on a stationary platform or on legs. TABOURETTE A stool or small seat, usually without arms or back, used as a stand. TAMBOUR A desk with a secretarial (shelved) top and sliding panels replacing the grille. TAPER LEG A leg which diminishes in thickness as it approaches the foot. TAVERN TABLE Sturdy, rectangular table on four legs, usually braced with stretchers. Much used in I8th century taverns. TESTER Top framework of a high-post canopy or draped bed, of wood or fabric. THERM LEG A square or four cornered tapered leg used on chairs or tables. TIER TABLE An occasional (usually pedestal based) table with 2 or 3 tiered round tops of graduated size. TILT-TOP A small table, with the top hinged to a pedestal base permitting it to hang vertically when not in use. TORCHERE A floor lamp designed to throw light upward. In early times, it was any stand that held a light. TRAIL Undulating bands of formalized leaf, berry or floral pattern. TREE-OF-LIFE Carved tree or vine design with fruit and often birds or animals in foliage. TREFOIL A three-leaved or three-cusped ornament usually contained within a circle. TRESPOLO Elegant three-legged tables usually designed to stand against a wall. TRESTLE A braced frame, forming the whole support for a table top. TRIPOD A three legged stand for a pedestal table. Adam and Chippendale favored it. TRIPTYCHA three part, hinged mirror or small screen inspired by alter pieces. TRIVET A three legged stand or small table normally flanking a fireplace. It now often refers to a wall decoration or a heat-resistant stand for hot objects. TROMPE D'OEFL. A French phrase meaning fool the eye. Usually a realistically painted surface which gives a three-dimensional effect. TRUMPET LEG A leg shaped like a trumpet and having its characteristic flared profile. TRUNDLE BED A low bed of colonial days which, during the daytime, was rolled under a larger bed. Just as popular in 21st century. TUCKAWAY TABLE A hinged leaf gate-leg table with cross legs which fold into each other as gepactly as if tucked away. TUDOR ROSE A decorative motif gepounded of the White Rose and the Red Rose. TULlP A design in the shape of a tulip, carved or painted on American furniture, especially Shaker. TURNING The shaping of legs or trim obtained by using a lathe. It is one of the most venerable wood working processes. UPHOLSTER To fit, as furniture, with coverings, padding, springs, etc. UPRIGHTS The outer vertical posts of a chair. URN A vase-shaped receptacle also used for ornament, especially on sideboards, or as finial of a broken pediment. VALANCE A horizontal cross section of draperies. VANITY A low, drop-center ladies' dressing table with an attached mirror and drawers and matching pull-up bench. VARGUENO A fall or drop front desk of Spanish origin popular in the 16th and 17th centuries. VENEER Thin sheets of wood applied to the surface for decorative effect or to improve the appearance of furniture. VIS-A-VIS A tete-a-tete chair in which two sitters face oppositely, sometimes referred to as a Gossip Chair.. VITRINE A glass-front china cabinet used mostly to display fine pieces. VOLUTE A spiral, scroll-like ornament on Ionic and Corinthian capitals. WAINSCOT CHAIR An Elizabethan oak chair, the back of which is paneled like the wainscoting of a wall. These chairs are massive, ornately carved with strap work. WASH STANDS Specially adapted for bedroom use after 1750. A cupboard or chest of drawers on four legs with a basin sunk in the top. WELSH CUPBOARD A cabinet with large enclosed storage base and upper part of open shelves. WHAT-NOT A portable stand with four uprights enclosing shelves, in use after about 1800 for books, ornaments, etc. WHEAT Carved ornamentations representing three ears of wheat. It was extensively used by Hepplewhite. WINDSOR CHAIR A chair with a wooden or rush seat, pegged legs, and back of turned spindles. Backs may be fan, hoop or geb type. WING CHAIR An upholstered chair with a high back, stuffed arms, and wing shaped protectors at head level protruding from the back over the arms. Introduced in America before 1725. X-CHAIR An ancient folding-type chair dating back to Egypt, Rome and the Middle Ages.X-STRETCHER A crossed stretcher at the bottom of a chair or table. YORKSHIRE CHAIR 17th century carved side chair native to Yorkshire, England with turned front legs and stretchers; it derived from the wainscot chair. YORKSHIRE DRESSER Dresser or cupboard, of oak or teal, with a low back. ZENANA Furniture reserved for the part of the house in which women and girls were secluded in ancient Persia. ZIG-ZAG A molding with a series of frequent sharp turns from side to side.