Furniture Vocab

Front 1

Acanthus leaf

Back 1

carved detail of a common Mediterranean leaf.

Front 2

Apron

Back 2

wood that goes across the bottom of a chest.

Front 3

Ball Foot

Back 3

foot shaped like a ball (round).

Front 4

Bun Foot

Back 4

furniture foot shaped like a bun (oval).

Front 5

Breakfront

Back 5

furniture, such as a cabinet or a bookcase, with a central section that projects or curves out beyond the sections on either side.

Front 6

Burl

Back 6

swirled and speckled veneer.

Front 7

Cabriole Leg

Back 7

furniture leg that curves outward at the "Knee" and then curves inward at the base "Foot". It is often found in Queen Anne furniture.

Front 8

Camel Back

Back 8

back of a sofa that has a "Hump" or Camel's Back in the center.

Front 9

Claw and Ball Foot

Back 9

leg of a chair carved form wood that looks like a bird's claw perched on a ball. It is often found in Chippendale furniture.

Front 10

Fiddle Back

Back 10

splat of a chair that is shaped like a violin.

Front 11

Finial

Back 11

finish or ornament found at the top of furniture such as a chair. Sometimes is in the shape of an urn, flame, flower or leaf.

Front 12

Dovetail

Back 12

type of joint that joins drawer corners together by interlocking them.

Front 13

Dust Board

Back 13

board separating a drawer space from the one above or below it.

Front 14

Gate Leg

Back 14

swinging leg that supports a leaf of a table.

Front 15

In-Lay-Wood

Back 15

type of wood of contrasting color or texture inset into a surface.

Front 16

Knee

Back 16

curved upper area of a cabriole leg.

Front 17

Knob Turning

Back 17

turning or carving done in a series of knob-like shapes on the leg of a piece of furniture.

Front 18

Ladder Back

Back 18

A Ladder Back is a horizontal back and splat on a chair resembling a section of a ladder.

Front 19

Lyre

Back 19

decorative design based on the classic Greek form of the harp.

Front 20

Patina

Back 20

mellow quality of color and texture that furniture surfaces acquire with age.

Front 21

Paw Foot

Back 21

furniture foot carved to resemble an animal's paw.

Front 22

Pediment

Back 22

ornamental top surrounding a tall piece of furniture. It is often "Broken" in the center.

Front 23

Pembroke Table

Back 23

table with a drop leaf where a central fixed leaf is twice as wide as the drop leafs.

Front 24

Piecrust Table

Back 24

circular tilt-top table with a raised rim.

Front 25

Reeding

Back 25

Reeding is a series of rounded, closely set beads usually carved out of wood.

Front 26

Spindle

Back 26

A Spindle is a narrow wood strip on a hooped back chair (Cylinders).

Front 27

Splat

Back 27

A Splat is the piece of wood in the middle of a chair back (Vertical Lines).

Front 28

Stretcher

Back 28

A Stretcher is the wood that connects the upright legs of a chair or table.

Front 29

Vaneer

Back 29

thin layer of wood glued on to a base piece of wood for a decorative effect or contrasting color.

Front 30

Armoire

Back 30

large wooden piece with doors, used in place of a closet for storing clothing or house hold linens.

Front 31

Bentwood

Back 31

Bentwood is furniture made from wood that is steam-bent into curved shapes.

Front 32

Coffee Table

Back 32

long, low table often placed in front of a sofa to hold newspapers, magazines and beverages.

Front 33

Club Chair

Back 33

comfortable, heavily upholstered chair with a cushioned seat.

Front 34

Commode

Back 34

low chest of drawers generally placed against a wall.

Front 35

Credenza/ Side Board

Back 35

storage piece about chair rail height with drawers and doors, usually designed for the dinning room but may also be used in other rooms as well.

Front 36

Hutch

Back 36

chest or cabinet on legs with an open shelf above.

Front 37

Loveseat

Back 37

small sofa for two people.

Front 38

Parsons Table

Back 38

classic square or rectangular table with an apron and legs of the same width.

Front 39

Poster Bed

Back 39

bed with four decorative posts.

Front 40

Side Chair

Back 40

armless dining chair.

Front 41

Trundle Bed

Back 41

low bed on casters that rolls under a full height bed.

Front 42

Wing Chair

Back 42

overstuffed chair that has projecting sides on the high upholstered back.

Front 43

Pedestal Table

Back 43

any table supported by a single post, rather than four decorative legs.

Front 44

Sawbuck Table

Back 44

any large table with two x-shaped supports.