As part of Collectible Antiques Etc's continuing series of glossaries meant to make the novice collector feel comfortable talking with dealers, reading catalogs and reference books, and make informed buying decisions we offer this list of antique furniture terms.
Acacia Properly several species of trees, similar to the locust, native to Australia. In England, however the name is often applied to the American locust tree.
Acorn The ornamental work on table legs, bedposts, and chairs. The term is most commonly applied to Jacobean furniture.
Arcoterium An ornament commonly adorning the tops of large pieces of classical style furniture. Usually found in the shape of a fan, shell, or scrollwork, most common on dressers, desks, and tallboys.
Amaranth A purple tinted wood commonly used as a veneer from the 18th century forward.
Ambulante A small, usually round table that could be easily transported. They were commonly used for serving tea, luncheons and the like. Imagine a Louis XV TV tray.
Amorini An Italian word used to describe the use of cherubs as decoration on antique furniture. These figures were especially common during the Baroque.
Angel Bed A canopied bed without footboard poles. The canopy extends only over part of the bed.
Apron Sometimes called a skirt, an apron is a part of furniture intended to hide unsightly structural components. For example where legs attach to a tabletop.
Arabesque A curved painted or carved decoration usually of floral or swirl designs but sometimes human or animal figures.
Arcade Any decorative design on a piece of furniture, although most common on chairs, carved to resemble a row of architectural columns and arches.
Arm Stump The vertical support post of the arm of a chair.
Art Moderne A French term for the design movements originating in America during the first quarter of the 20th century. Similar to but should not be confused with Art Deco.
Aster Carving Floral decorations common to early American furniture. It is most commonly identified with chests made in Connecticut.
Atlantes Support columns for tables and chairs carved to resemble burly, usually nearly naked men.
Bachelor Chest Small chests of drawers made in England from the 18th century onward.
Bag Table A small table used for sewing or similar task. Its most distinguishing trait is that one drawer will have or have had a cloth bag in place of the traditional drawer.
Ball Foot A round ornament turned onto the base of a table or chair leg.
Balloon Back A style of chair back with a pronounced round shape. A very common design in Victorian furniture.
Banderole A carved or painted ribbon decoration applied to furniture. Commonly the ribbon is further decorated with a slogan or coat of arms.
Banquette A French tern to describe an upholstered bench. The term is generally applied to furniture from the 18th century of later.
Baroque The period of history generally and design specifically starting in the 17th century. As opposed to the simple elegant lines of classicism Baroque style furniture is big, lavishly decorated, and imbued with a sense of motion. Elaborate twisting columns, oversized molding, and unnecessary ornamentation are all hallmarks of Baroque furniture.
Beau Brummel A man's dressing table made during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Often they were complex pieces with adjustable shelves, candleholders, and compartments. As the foppishness spread the complexities increased.
Bed Steps A small set of moveable steps used to climb into beds set high above the floor. They were widely used in England and America during the 18th century.
Bergere English and German copies of a popular style of upholstered French armchairs from the 18th century.
Biedermeier A German style of furniture from the early 19th century copied from French Empire style. Famous as a stolid middle class style and named for a popular comic strip character, Papa Biedermeier.
Blanket Chest Broadly it means any chest used to store linen and blankets, however specifically applied to chest with a hinged lid and several small drawers beneath the main compartment.
Boat Bed A large low sitting bed made in America during the early 19th century, the name derives from the furniture close resemblance to a boat.
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Posted on July 20th, 2006
Silas Finch is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Collectible Antiques Etc. He can be reached at Content and Solutions.
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