Abacus: The topmost member of the capital of a column.
Abrasion Wear: Distress or wear marks on fabrics, wood or metal. Created when a furniture
or accessory surface experiences friction in
use or handling.
Abstract: Style
of design that uses general forms verses detailed
realistic representations.
Acanthus Leaf: A
leaf decoration often used on furniture, particularly
on brackets and legs.
Accent Colors: Contrast colors used to enhance room color schemes.
Accessible Design: Interior and exterior design that meets prescribed requirements for
people with disabilities. Guidelines and laws
related to accessible design include such issues
as standard dimensions and features such as door
widths, clear space for wheelchair mobility,
countertop heights, audible and visual signals,
switch and outlet height, and more.
Accessories: Objects such as books, plants, vases, lamps, and decorative pieces.
Acetate: A
synthetic fiber made from cellulose, which is
a common material in the cell walls of many plants.
It is usually combined with other fibers to add
a luxurious feel and appearance.
Acorn: Turned
ornament resembling an acorn; common in Jacobean
furniture as finials on chair posts and bedposts,
as pendants and as the profile of leg turnings
in Jacobean tables.
Acrilan: A
synthetic fiber used in producing Wear-Dated® fabrics.
Acroterium: Originally an ornament on the roof corners of Greek temples. In classical
furniture, similar ornaments applied to the top
corners of secretaries, bookcases, highboys and
other furniture.
Acrylic: A
synthetic fiber that's derived from a plant or
chemical resin. Acrylic's best properties are
its moderate strength and acceptance of brilliant
color dyes. Acrylic also has a plush loft that
will not flatten.
Adam Style: British
neoclassical style that predominated during the
later half of the 1700’s. This style developed
out of reaction to the more fanciful rococo style
of the 1750's, and is characterized by slender,
graceful lines, refined shapes and restrained ornamentation.
Adaptation: Furniture
that captures the feel of an original design or
period, but differs in some details.
Ageing: Decorative
technique used to create the effect of wear-and-tear
on a wooden, painted, plastic or other surfaces.
Air Bed: A
vinyl or rubber mattress core that's filled with
air for support. Can be upholstered and covered
with cushioning and ticking and be used in combination
with a foundation.
Alcove: Recessed
part of a room. Bed alcoves exist in Pompeian
rooms, and such placing of the sleeping quarters
was common in northern Europe through the Middle
Ages and later. In the 18th century special beds
were designed to fit such recesses. Alcoves are
also used for bookcases and cabinets, dining
groups, etc.
Ambry: In medieval
churches a recess for the storage of goods. The
addition of doors gave it the cupboard form. The
English equivalent became a large cupboard with
doors; the interiors were fitted with shelves for
storage.
American Colonial: Term loosely applied to all American furniture used by the colonies
prior to the American Revolution. This style
includes rough handmade pieces of the early American
frontier, New England versions of Jacobean and
Puritan (Cromwellian), furniture imported by
settlers from Europe and Americanized versions
of formal English and European designs. There
is no clear division of this period but most
agree to group it into Early Colonial and Late
Colonial (American Provincial).
American Country: Simple designs originating from the earliest settlers in America during
the Early Colonial period (see above). These pieces
are very simple and often rough in design. This
charming style is still very popular today.
American Frontier (American
Primitive): This
style of late 1700’s to 1800’s was
created to meet the demands of the western frontier.
Noted pieces include wagon seat twin chairs,
sinks without plumbing, cupboards and cobbler’s
benches. Woods primarily used included ash, hickory,
maple, black walnut and pine. Pieces of this
period were usually painted black or in primary
colors.
Americana: Objects & decor items that are characteristic of American history
or culture.
Angel Bed: A
bed with a canopy but no front support.
Aniline Dye: Term applies to dyes derived from coal tar, which are used to color
fabrics and leather.
Aniline-Plus: Term sometimes applied to leather finished with an opaque pigmented dye.
Antique: Could
be anything ranging from a piece of furniture to
art. The U.S. government considers any item over
100 years old to be an antique, whereas most collectors
use 50 years as a benchmark.
Antique Finish (or Antiquing): A paint or stain finish applied to an object to give an aged
look.
Antique Satin: A drapery fabric that has a lustrous effect, normally made of rayon/acetate
blends.
Apothecary Chest: A
low chest with small drawers that was originally
used to store herbs for cooking and medicinal purposes.
Apron: The
wooden panel connecting the surface and legs of
a table or chair.
Area Rug: A
small rug or carpet which covers only part of
the floor.
Arm Caps: Coverings, usually crafted from fabric, to protect the top surface
of sofa and chair arms.
Arm Chair: Seating
that has both a backrest and armrests.
Armoire: A
tall wardrobe with doors and shelves for clothing,
more recently armoires have been adapted for use
as an entertainment center or computer workstation.
Arrow Foot: A
cylindrical foot that's tapered and separated from
the leg by a turned ring.
Art Deco: A
streamlined, geometric style of home furnishings
and architecture popular in the 1920’s and
1930’s. Characteristics include rounded fronts,
wood furniture with chrome hardware and, or, glass
tops.
Art Glass: Decorative glass - includes stained, beveled, fused, blown, etched,
leaded and cut.
Art Moderne: The
Paris Expedition of 1925 introduced a fantastically
modern design called Art Moderne. This styling
is familiar because of its angular and straight
shape. Geometric patterns are the main decoration.
Art Nouveau: Decorative
style developed in France between 1890 and 1910.
Tiffany lamps are a great example of this styles
ornate and flowing lines.
Artisan Style: A
style characterized by fine but not overly ornate
workmanship that celebrates the maker's community
identity or ethnicity.
Arts & Crafts: Also
commonly known as Mission style. This style was
popular from the late 1800’s through the
1920’s. The Arts and Crafts movement was
a reaction against the mass-produced and ornate
Victorian furniture of that time.
Asian Style: A general
term referring to styles of the Far East. Such
as Chinese, Japanese, or Korean designs for example.
Furniture with Asian characteristics are popular
as a subset of contemporary style.
Astragal: Small,
semi-circular molding applied to the glazing
bars on cabinets and bookcases.
Attached Back Pillow: A pillow treatment that can’t be removed from the upholstered piece,
commonly found on sofas, loveseats and chairs.
Aubusson: A
scenic tapestry used for wall hangings and upholstery.
Named for Aubusson, France.
Austrian Shade
(or Austrian Blind): A
decorative window treatment with a scalloped
lower edge. When the blind is drawn up it maintains
the scalloped edge, creating folds of ruched
fabric.
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