Abattant: A term used to describe a drop-down flap often seen in the French style of the secretary desk, secrétaire à abattant, concealing drawers, and shelves within.
Antique: A piece of furniture or object that is more than 100 years old.
Applique: A term for a category of light which can be affixed to a wall.
Apron: A decorative element joining the surface of a chair or table with the legs.
Armchair: An armchair can be any chair with arms. However, there are two different kinds: the fauteuil, with open sides, and the bergere, with closed sides.
Armoire: A tall standing wardrobe or closet, often used to store clothes, which can feature one to three doors and sometimes a mirrored panel.
Arrow foot: A type of chair foot that ends in a tapered cylinder, often seen in the 18th century.
Art Deco: A style popular from the 1920s to the 1930s characterized by bold geometric designs.
Back splat: The vertical piece of wood running from the frame of a chair to the base of the backrest.
Ball foot: A fully spherical foot on a piece of furniture.
Ball and claw foot: A cast or carved foot consisting of a ball covered by an animal’s claw, in English furniture often that of a lion or a bird. The design is thought to have originated in China, where a dragon’s claw would represent the strong grip of the emperor.
Baroque: A decorative style from the late 16th century through to the 18th century characterized by the use of bold sculptural forms, dynamic surfaces, and elaborate ornament.
Also known as a tub chair, a barrel chair has a round upholstered seat, and arms forming a continuous line with the backrest.
Bas relief: A form of carving or molding in which the design projects out from the flat surface of the background.
Bentwood: A kind of wood that has been heated and shaped to become curved.
Bergere: A kind of upholstered armchair with closed sides that first became popular in the 18th century.
Bevel: An edge that has been cut at a slant, often seen on mirrors.
Biedermeier: Encompasses the period between 1815 and 1848 in Central Europe. Influenced by Napoleonic styles, the furniture was produced buy best furniture online in cheap price in san Jose
Blockfront: A kind of chest divided into three parts in which the middle part is set back from the sides.
Bombe: A term used to describe the bulging outwards of a piece of furniture.
Bowfront: A chest with a convex front.
Bracket foot: A right-angled foot shaped like a bracket.
Bun foot: A ball foot that has been flattened slightly, like a bun.
Bureau: A chest of drawers often used in a bedroom, sometimes combined with a fold-down desk.
