Bombé: a curvaceous furniture form that bows outward at the top. See a Carlton Hobbs example MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9253 #antiquegeek
Semiprecious stone: stones valued for rarity & beauty. Seen on Carlton Hobbs obelisks MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9602 #antiquegeek
Chasing: shaping metal by hammering it from the front side. MORE at Carlton Hobbs Flickr page: http://bit.ly/CH8055 #antiquegeek
Diaper: a pattern of repeating diamond-shapes, often used as a decorative background. LINK FIXED: http://bit.ly/CH9796 #antiquegeek
Cabriole: describes an S-shaped Rococo furniture leg, named for a leaping goat. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH8059 #antiquegeek
Strapwork: 2-D design resembling interwoven & curling strips of parchment, leather or metal. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9755 #antiquegeek
Putti: winged infants in art and architecture. Associated with Eros, Greek god of love. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH_9815 #antiquegeek
Scroll: a shape ending in a circular spiral, used to decorate architecture & furniture. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9353 #antiquegeek
Reverse-glass: painting on the back of a sheet of glass, to be viewed thru the front. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9065 #antiquegeek
Cylinder desk: a desk with a rounded lid that flips open to reveal the writing surface. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9036 #antiquegeek
Roundel: circular or spherical ornament, carved or painted on furniture as decoration. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9134 #antiquegeek
Gesso: calcium carbonate mixed with glue. Can be carved, sculpted, painted or gilded. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9418 #antiquegeek
Tongue-and-dart: decorative molding with alternating tongue and arrow shapes. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9115 #antiquegeek
Anthemion: a sculptural or painted ornament in the form of a palm leaf. Also a “palmette”. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH_9753 #antiquegeek
Espagnolette: a furniture mount in the form of a female bust, figure or mask. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH-9515 #antiquegeek
Specimen: describes a collection of marble or hardstone samples inlaid in a tabletop. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH_8059 #antiquegeek
Egg-and-Dart: molding with pattern of alternating ovals (”eggs”) and arrows (”darts”). MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9782 #antiquegeek
Premiere-partie: marquetry veneer with tortoiseshell background & flourishes in brass. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH-9222 #antiquegeek
Lunette: a half-moon-shaped decoration. Filled with a glazed window or carved relief, etc. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH_9677 #antiquegeek
Composition: material that is easily molded & used for sculptural decoration. Often gilt. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9304 #antiquegeek
Palladian: style of architecture w/ classical features & a basis in symmetry & proportion. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9056 #antiquegeek
Pad foot: furniture foot shaped like a club. Often seen on Queen Anne cabriole legs. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH-9538 #antiquegeek
Mirror plate: a reflective sheet of metal or glass, once always convex, now usually flat. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9580 #antiquegeek
C-Scroll: decorative device– a single curve with circular spiraled ends, as in a volute. MORE:http://bit.ly/CH8046 #antiquegeek
Monopodium: furniture leg in the form of animal leg & paw- animal’s head carved on top. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9128 #antiquegeek
Neoclassical: 18th & 19th c. architectural style imitating the ancient Greek & Roman look. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH-9231 #antiquegeek
Spandrel: the space between an arch and its rectangular enclosure, or between two arches. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9582 #antiquegeek
Stiff-leaf: stylized leaf pattern used as an ornament in neoclassical furniture. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH8029 #antiquegeek
Sphinx: mythical creature with the body of a recumbent lion and the head of a human. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9567 #antiquegeek
Parcel gilt: partly gilded. Furniture decorated with gold leaf in only some areas. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9062 #antiquegeek
Tessera: a tile in a mosaic, cut to shape. Usually made of stone, glass, or ceramic. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9127 #antiquegeek
Lumachella: limestone with fossilized snail shells in it. Come see it at the SF Show! MORE: http://bit.ly/CH8007 #antiquegeek
Openwork: wood or metalwork that has spaces cut out, leaving the solid parts as the design. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH8034 #antiquegeek
Rosette: round, flat decoration, carved or painted in the form of a stylized flowerhead. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9409 #antiquegeek
Relief: a carving that projects from a flat background. >50%= high relief, <50%= low. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9530 #antiquegeek
Knife box: a decorative, lidded box for storing knives (and sometimes forks). MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9187 #antiquegeek
Opus sectile: a technique like marquetry w/ colored stones, cut & fit to make a pattern. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9212 #antiquegeek
Gilding: applying thin layers of gold leaf to a surface (usually wood or metal). MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9556 #antiquegeek
Klismos: style of chair with curved legs and backrest, invented by the ancient Greeks. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9821 #antiquegeek
Outswept: angled or curving outward at the ends. Usually describes furniture legs & arms. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9362 #antiquegeek
Volute: a scroll-shaped ornament, often seen in the capital of an Ionic column. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH7005 #antiquegeek
Fall-front: a desk door with hinge at the bottom. Folds up to close, down to be a table. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9260 #antiquegeek
Whorl: a circular motif that looks like it’s spinning (similar to a pinwheel). MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9748 #antiquegeek
Mystery Term of the Day: Wonder what it will be? Take a look at the pic http://bit.ly/CH9748 and make your guess! #antiquegeek
X-stretcher: a set of diagonal rails connecting the legs of a table, for x-tra stability. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9266 #antiquegeek
Mystery Term of the Day! What will tomorrow’s term be? Check out the photo http://bit.ly/CH9266 and make your guess! #antiquegeek
Verre églomisé: glass that is gilded, engraved, & painted on its reverse side. Effect: WOW! MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9148 #antiquegeek
Tôle: sheet iron. Usually made into a decorative object & painted, becoming tôle peinte. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9273 #antiquegeek
Scagliola: a technique of making imitation stone from ground gypsum, glue and pigment. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9101 #antiquegeek
Reeding: thin vertical stripes that project outward from a surface- opposite of Fluting. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9048 #antiquegeek
Quatrefoil: a four-leaf clover shape, often decorating Gothic architecture & furniture. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9221 #antiquegeek
Patera: a round ornament on a frieze, usually in low-relief & shaped like a dish or flower. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9231 #antiquegeek
Ogee: an S-shaped curve used as a molding profile and to make pointed Gothic arches. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9776 #antiquegeek
Nereid: a sea-nymph in Greek mythology. Seen in allegorical paintings & rococo furniture. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9815 #antiquegeek
Mask: Decorative motif in the shape of a face: often a lion, a satyr, Medusa, etc. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9515 #antiquegeek
Lambrequin: a drapery with a scalloped edge, or a decorative motif in that shape. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9222 #antiquegeek
Knop: an ornamental handle with a bulbous shape. Seen atop porcelain teapot lids, etc. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9686 #antiquegeek
Japanning: European imitation of Asian lacquer-decorated furniture. Big in the 18th-c. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9538 #antiquegeek
Intarsia: a technique of inlaying colored woods into a background wood to make a design. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9698 #antiquegeek
H-stretcher: an H-shaped arrangement of bars used to reinforce the legs of a chair or table. MORE: http://bit.ly/CH9291 #antiquegeek
Greek key: a decorative border made of a line bending at right angles into a repeating pattern. http://www.flickr.com/photos/carltonhobbsllc/3864479525/in/set-72157621885793549/ #antiquegeek
Hardstone: a semi-precious stone, like onyx or amethyst, often used for inlaid decoration. MORE: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carltonhobbsllc/3862295268/in/set-72157621885793549/ #antiquegeek
Grisaille: a style of painting in shades of grey to make the subject look like statuary. MORE: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carltonhobbsllc/3856931810/in/set-72157621885793549/ #antiquegeek
Fret: a pattern of interlacing lines, often of angular form, cut out of wood or metal. MORE: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carltonhobbsllc/3856639968/in/set-72157621885793549/ #antiquegeek
Deal: pine or fir wood, used in painted and veneered furniture since the 1600s. MORE: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carltonhobbsllc/3853056740/in/set-72157621885793549/ #antiquegeek
Cartouche: an ornamental framing device, usually surrounded by elaborate scrollwork. MORE: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carltonhobbsllc/3842224837/in/set-72157621885793549/ #antiquegeek
Bergere: an 18th-c. French armchair, with a high curved back and ‘wings’ under the arms. MORE: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carltonhobbsllc/3839558473/in/set-72157621885793549/ #antiquegeek
Arabesque: an elaborate pattern of interwoven calligraphic lines, as seen in Boullework. MORE: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carltonhobbsllc/3837399870/in/set-72157621885793549/ #antiquegeek
Festoon: a classical decoration in the form of a garland hung loosely between two points. MORE: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carltonhobbsllc/3837030360/in/set-72157621885793549/ #antiquegeek
Etruscan: 18th-c. decorative style based on colors and motifs found on ancient vases. MORE: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carltonhobbsllc/3830809952/in/set-72157621885793549/ #antiquegeek
