Custom Furniture

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The following is a list of terms commonly used when referring to 18th & 19th century American Furniture. Statton pattern numbers noted in parentheses illustrate the definitions.

• ACANTHUS. A decorative wood carving representing the ragged leaf of the acanthus plant, a motive of classic Greek and Roman origin.
• APRON. A panel of structural wood, often decoratively detailed, which connects legs of a table, chair, etc.
• BAIL. A metal hook suspended between two studs to form a drawer pull.
• BALLOON SEAT. A chair seat where the front rail bows forward in a convex or horseshoe shape.
• BEAD. A small quarter or half round molding.
• BLOCK-FRONT. A unique American furniture form, mainly found in chests, where the front is divided vertically by a concave center and two convex end panels that often terminate at the top in flat arches or carved shells.
• BOLECTION MOLD. A decorative boldly-rounded surface mold, indicative of the Chippendale style.
• BONNET TOP. An enclosed or hooded pediment on the top section of a highboy or secretary.
• BRACKET FOOT. A low right-angled foot of a chest, etc., having two decoratively shaped ends and a vertically straight or ogee molded face.
• CABRIOLE LEG. A double curved leg, swelling out at the top (knee) and in at the bottom (ankle).
• CHAMFER. The beveled cutting of a corner or edge.
• CLAW & BALL. A carved foot resembling a bird's claw grasping a ball, most often with a cabriole leg.
• COCKBEAD. A small, half-round mold applied to edges of a drawer front.
• CORNICE. A horizontal molding or group of moldings crowning the top of a cabinet or other furniture.
• CUSPED CORNER. An indented corner on case and table tops or other panels, created by the intersection of two carved quarterround corners. (1484)
• CYMA CURVE. A double curve in a simplified "S" form.
• DENTILS. Rectangular blocks equally spaced for ornamentation in a cornice molding.
• DRAKE FOOT. A carved three-toed foot. Also a "Trifid Foot".
• DUTCH FOOT. A type of disk or pad foot used in varying forms on either turned or cabriole legs.
• EGLOMISE. The decorative and exacting art of reverse painting on glass, mainly related to the Sheraton style.
• ESCUTCHEON. The shaped fitting surrounding a key hole or the backplate of a pull, usually brass.
• FAN CARVING. A carving composed of radiating lines in a half-round or fan-shaped pattern.
• FIELDED PANEL. A solid wood panel with molded or beveled outside edges and a flat, raised center section.
• FINIAL. A decorative terminal member, projecting vertically from the top of a post, pediment, etc.
• FLAME. A spiral carving that resembles a flame atop an urn-shaped finial.
• b. Consecutive half-round channels cut perpendicularly into columns, posts, panels, etc.
• FRETWORK. The geometric patterned tracery or muntins of glazed doors.
• FRIEZE. A broad, flat band in a cornice or beneath a case top, usually ornamented.
• KNEE. The convex portion at the top of a carved cabriole leg.
• LIP MOLD. The molded edge on a drawer or door front that is extended with a rabbet to cover the joint between the front and case structure.
• MARLBOROUGH FOOT. A square block foot under a straight or only slightly tapered Chippendale leg.
• OGEE. A classical molding with a double curve or cyma profile, as in an ogee bracket foot.
• PAD FOOT. See "DUTCH FOOT".
• PANEL. A board contained within a framework of rails and stiles.
• PEDIMENT. The ornamental cresting with moldings atop a tall chest. etc., either triangular or scroll shaped.
• PENDANT. A hanging ornament, usually a turning.
• PIERCING. Carved or cut-out openwork, as in a stretcher or splat.
• PILASTER. A half-round or thin rectangular column superimposed over a vertical surface.
• REEDING. Decoration formed by a series of bead moldings set together in parallel lines.
• ROSETTE. A circular ornamentation, often carved to resemble a flower.
• RULE JOINT. A quarter-round, molded wood joint between a table top and drop leaf, leaving no open space when the leaf is down.
• SCROLL BRACKET. A decorative brace-like member at juncture of legs and aprons on tables, cases, and chairs, characteristic of the Chippendale style.
• SERPENTINE. A compound curve with convex center and two concave ends.
• SHELL MOTIVE. Decorative carving in the form of a scallop shell, popular in Queen Anne and Chippendale styles.
• SLIP SEAT. A removable, upholstered seat frame for a chair or bench.
• SNAKE FOOT. A carved foot where the slender, swelling lines suggest a snake's form, usually on tripod bases.
• SPADE FOOT. A tapered square foot, resembling the outline of a spade.
• SPLAT. A wide, vertical, wood member in the center of a chair back.
• STILE. The vertical outside member in the framework of doors and cabinets.
• STRETCHER. A horizontal bracing member connecting legs of a table or chair.
• TESTER. The wooden framework atop a high post bed, for draping with fabric. Also called a canopy.
• TRIFID FOOT. See "DRAKE FOOT".
• TRUMEAU. A form of two-part mirror frame in which an ornamental panel is featured above the mirrored glass.
• VENEERING. The art of utilizing thin layers of fine woods to their best decorative and structural advantage by lamination to a core of less valuable wood.
• VOLUTE. A spiral scroll form of ornamentation, usually a carving.