Furniture Terms

(typically) a three-drawer low chest. May be used as a nightstand or a foyer item.

inverted arch handle, usually hinged to a back plate, that is used to pull open a drawer.

balloon shades are similar in construction to a Roman shades, but the billowy folds along the bottom edge when the shade is raised.

the supporting post of a handrail, often with a curved, vase shape; may also refer to a furniture leg, or chair back element of a similar shape.

wood that has been turned on a lathe to simulate natural bamboo.

tufted, armless chair with an X-shaped, chrome base and leather cushions. Designed by Mies Van Der Rohe, the Barcelona chair is considered to be a classic of "international style."

a turned-wood element with encircling spirals along its length, so that a portion is raised like the threads of a screw. May be found on beds with posters, or on the legs and spindles of case goods

Historically from the early 17th century to the mid 18th century. European style of art architecture and music that features bold curving forms and elaborate ornamentation.

low relief carving.

a fabric dyeing method that uses a wax resist (that is later removed) to create a design or pattern. Batik is often done in successive layers, with wax applied between multiple dye baths.

sheets of fiber padding (cotton, wool or synthetic fiber) used in upholstery and quilt making.

early to mid-20th century German school of art and design that emphasized the concept that "form follows function." Furnishings in this style are marked by clean, simple, lines that are often hard-edged.

decorative molding consisting of a line of small, convex half-spheres.

small table used beside a bed as a night stand.

a two-step stool intended to be used beside a bed.

a small chest of two to three drawers intended to be used beside a bed.

the framework of a bed that supports a mattress and box spring.

furniture that is made one step at a time, piece by piece, as opposed to furniture constructed on an assembly line.

process by which wood or rattan is softened by steam and bent around molds into a desired shape.

chair with an exposed wooden frame. The back and seat may be upholstered or may feature loose cushions.

split leather with a polyurethane coating that gives it a high sheen and increases durability.

German style developed in the first half of the nineteenth century, influenced by French Empire styles, and name for a fictitious "every man" character.

a mixture of down and polyester fibers used to fill upholstery cushions. Blend down is wrapped around high density foam or foam-encased springs, then encased in down-proof ticking before being covered with the upholstery fabric. Feathers may also be used with the down and polyester.

the square end of an un-tapered leg.

along cylindrical or rectangular cushion.

from French, meaning curving or bulging outward; refers to a style of chest or table that has an outward-bulging profile that curves inward at the base.

a rounded, bonnet-shaped crown to the top of a highboy, armoire or other similar case piece. Common in 17th and 18th century designs.

veneers that are aligned so that grain patterns of adjoining pieces are reflective of each other.

an American rocker (19th Century) with curved seat, spindle back, and a wide top rail.

a nubby fabric comprised of uneven yarns that creates a rough appearance.

a curved upper support of a chair back that is connected to the seat with spindles. Common in Windsor style chairs.

a case piece with a convexly curved front.

cushion with four sides connecting the top and bottom of the cushion, resembling the construction of a box. A welt frequently runs the perimeter of the top and bottom.

a flat double pleat made by folding under the fabric on either side of it to create an inverted pleat.

an upholstery skirt with alternating high/low folds of fabric to create a dentil pattern.

a low, right angle foot, usually constructed with a mitered corner. May be plain, molded, or scrolled. Common on Hepplewhite and Sheraton. Also known as a console leg.

a flat, woven trim used for decorative edges on upholstery to cover staples or tacks.

chest, cabinet or bookcase design in which a center section projects out from the rest. Also known as a block front.

a heavy woven fabric with raised woven decoration that resembles embroidery. Used in upholstery.

a crown at the top of case goods that nearly forms a low-pitched triangle, but has either a void or a finial at the triangle apex.

a cupboard or "dresser" used in a dining room used to hold platters and serving dishes. They are occasionally paired with a china cabinet hutch atop.

a thick fringe composed of long, twisted loops of yarn covered in gold or silver thread.

foot in the shape of a flattened ball, often with a slender ankle above.

a low chest of drawers; commonly a dresser.

a beautiful swirled pattern in the grain of a piece of wood caused by a deformity in the tree. Burled wood is often used as a veneer.

a wood table top comprised of multiple pieces of thick strips of hardwood bonded together.

a table with self-storing leaf mechanisms.

upholstery treatment in which buttons (usually fabric-covered) are sewn through the surface and tied down to create a tailored, sometimes undulating, surface.