Furniture Terms

upholstered arm chair with open sides.

French term for simulated wood.

Historically 1780-1820. Style that emerged in the US after the revolutionary war that was similar to Sheraton, Hipplewhite and Adams with simplified forms. Classicism had an influence as the young country considered itself the rightful heir to the republic of ancient Rome. Scantly used decorative motifs include acanthus leaves, pineapples, scrolls and pilasters.

Chinese philosophy of design which seeks to balance the yin and yang energies in a space through the arrangement of objects.

a chair with a fiddle-shaped back splat.

a terminating ornament, such a the top of a post, that is carved or turned on a lathe.

protective coating applied to wood furniture; may also refer to the combination of the protective coating and the color effect applied to wood or metal.

a mattress with a firm feel and strong support with a small amount comfort padding.

a symbol from French heraldry, this abstraction of an iris remains a popular motif in many decorative arts.

table is distinguished by a table top that can be doubled over on itself. As it is unfolded it is either rotated or shifted on the table base for support.

vertical panel or structure situated at the foot of a bed frame.

combined use of book matching and end matching veneers to create a larger pattern.

wood furniture constriction technique consisting of one long grove that fits with an interlocking wedge.

style characteristic of 17th and 18th century France. May also be referred to as European country.

decorative trim on furniture that is interlaced or pierced

generic term for wood from trees such as cherry and apple.

leather that has not been altered beyond hair removal.

a Japanese mattress of cotton batting, used either on the floor or on a folding frame.