Descriptionary

cinquefoil an ornament comprised of a five-lobed leaf in a circle, found on Gothic furniture.

console a decorative bracket supporting a tabletop or a cornice.

coquillage a rococo-style ornamental motif of scal­lop shells.

cornice decorative molding around the top of a cabinet.

cornucopia a carved or painted ornamental motif featuring a horn filled with flowers and fruit, appear­ing on Renaissance, Federal, and art deco-style furniture.

cup turning turned wood in the shape of an upside- down cup or a right-side up cup with a domed lid. The design originated on the legs of some Jacobean furniture.

dentils decorative, teethlike blocks that project from a cornice. Also, dentil molding.

distressed describing a piece of furniture that is pur­posely dented, scratched, and worn to give it an aged or antique appearance.

distressing see antiquing.

double open-twist turning wood that is turned and carved to make it appear as if it is intertwining.

dovetail a connective joint made of tapering fingers that are joined with others for a strong hold, found in drawer construction.

dowel a wooden rod or pin used to connect or hold two pieces together.

drake foot a carved footing in the shape of a duck's foot.

ebonized stained black to simulate expensive ebony woods from India and Africa.

eclectic a style that uses a blend of other styles.

egg and dart decorative molding characterized by alternating oval and arrow forms, seen on cornices.

embossing the stamping of a design on wood to simulate carving.

ergonomic design any modern design elements incorporating that which conforms to human com­fort, safety, and ease of use.

escutcheon a plain or ornamental plate or shield, usually found around a keyhole or drawer pull.

fancy faces veneers that are cut and matched with other veneers to make an appealing or exotic pattern, used on cabinet facades, drawer fronts, and doors.

faux artificial, simulated.

feathered a wood grain pattern resembling feathers, as seen on mahogany and satinwood.

festoon any carved or painted ornament reminis­cent of a garland, a strand of rope, or a loop of flow­ers or scallops.

fiberboard any cheap style of furniture made from compressed wood fibers and glue. Also, the wood itself.

figure a distinct marking or characteristic of a wood grain, such as mottles, feathers, waves, burls, crotches, and crossfire.

finial an ornamental tip on the top of a spire or cabinet.

flame finial a finial carved to resemble a ball of flame.

fluting decorative vertical channels or grooves.

foliate of an ornamental element, resembling a leaf or leaves.

French foot see scroll foot.

French scroll see scroll foot.

fretwork decorative carving in the configuration of lattice or other intersecting lines. Also known as lat­ticework.

gallery rail a decorative rail along the border of a table or sideboard.

gouge carving decorative incising made by chisel cuts, found on gothic and Pennsylvania Dutch furniture.

graining painting technique that produces a wood grain effect.

grotesque a carved or painted insect, bird, human head, griffin, or other strange beast, used as ornament on Renaissance, baroque, and rococo furniture.

guilloche a decorative band of interwoven curves.

half column a decorative column portion, some­times seen on highboys and secretaries.

half turning any wood turned on a lathe and then cut in half lengthwise for application as a decorative element.

haut relief a carving that projects high off the sur­face it decorates. Also known as high relief.

incised carved or engraved into a surface, as opposed to being raised above it.

inlay a panel or strip of inserted wood, grain, or mother of pearl, as a decoration.

intaglio any design incised or engraved into a surface.

in the white designating unfinished wood or furniture.

Japanning furniture finish made of either gesso, paint, or varnish, used to simulate lacquer, which in the 17th and 18 th centuries was unavailable except in Asia and particularly in Japan.

lambrequin on a table or chair, a decoratively scal­loped apron.

latticework see fretwork.

laurel leaves decorative motif of a band or wreath of laurel leaves, popular in neoclassical furniture of the 18th and 19th centuries.

liming lightening the color of wood by dipping it into a solution of lime, originating in the 16th century.

lozenge an ornament in the shape of a diamond.

lunette a half-moon or semicircular ornamental piece that may be carved, inlaid, or painted, some­times in the configuration of a fan.

marquetry decorative wood inlay, often using dif­ferent shades and kinds of woods.