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Armoire: wardrobe.
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Aubusson: factory known for
tapestries of pastoral scenes, & later rugs.
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Baldachin: canopy.
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Bas-relief: decoration which is slightly raised from the
surface or background.
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Beauvais: originally a tapestry factory. During the reign of Louis XVI they produced seat covers & carpets.
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Bergère: upholstered armchair with wood frame and
closed arms.
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Boiserie: elaborately carved wood paneling.
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Bombe: commode with a bulging front.
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Bouillotte: small lamp with narrow shade,
arrow detail above the shade and tray base.
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Bureau plat: large writing table.
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Burl: tree growth with interesting design and color pattern used for
veneering.
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Cabriole: legs which curve out from the seat &
inward toward the foot in an S shape.
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Canapé: sofa.
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Cartouche: Roman inspired decoration used in Renaissance, Baroque
& Rococo.
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Chaise-longue: a reclining chair with a seat that extends for leg support.
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Chinoiserie: lacquer furniture with oriental designs. Louis XIV favored black lacquer and established a workshop
at his Gobelins
factory. Vernis martin (1730) gave a
brilliant surface. Most common now is black lacquer
with a raised gilded decoration.
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Credence: small table or sideboard.
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Èbénistes: makers of veneered case furniture.
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Eglomisé: glass panel painted gold, white or blue on reverse used in
doors.
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Enfilade: interconnecting suite of rooms
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Escritoire: writing desk.
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Espagnolette: bronze mount in female bust design (Régence & Louis
XV).
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Estampille: Stamp of cabinet maker.
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Étagère: freestanding shelf unit open on all sides used for display.
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Fauteuil: armchair with open arms.
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Faux finish: finish made to look like
another, e.g., marble or wood.
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Gilt-bronze: bronze which has been gilded.
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Gilt wood: gold finished wood.
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Guéridon: candle stand with tripod base.
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Gobelins: Louis XIV's furniture & tapestry workshops.
Production
was for the king.
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Inlay: contrasting wood, stone, metal, shell or ivory
set into another material for a decorative effect.
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Jardinière: plant container.
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Lambrequin: deeply scalloped drapery or that effect carved into
furniture.
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Lit canapé: sofa bed.
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Lyon silk: silk woven at Lyon (finest silks of the 18th c).
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Magot: grotesque oriental figure on porcelain.
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Marquetry: inlay design glued into furniture or floors using a
variety of woods (Boulle marquetry uses tortoiseshell & metal).
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Mascaron: head of animal, man or woman placed on the corner of
apron.
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Ormolu: embellishment for furniture made
from a copper & zinc alloy which looks like gold.
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Period style: Entire room design referencing one historical time
and place.
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Poudreuse: small dressing table.
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Ratchet: a sofa with movable arms that can be dropped
down for sleeping.
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Repoussé: raised design on metal made by hammering the back side.
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Sabot: metal fitting to protect leg bottom.
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Savonnerie: carpets produced in workshops established by Henry IV.
Early designs were flowers on a dark ground. Louis XIV introduced designs
by Le Brun. Also screens and covers for chairs and benches.
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Sconce: light which is fixed on the wall.
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Semainier: tall chest for the bedroom with 7
drawers.
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Sèvres: porcelain made at the Sèvres factory starting in 1756
when it was moved from Vincennes. It was sold to Louis XV in 1759 and
remains state property.
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Shagreen: skin of dogfish, pale green, blue or yellow, used to
cover furniture.
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Singerie: design with a monkey motif.
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Tabouret: foot stool.
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Toile: Toiles de Jouy is now a generic term for fabric with monochromatic prints of pastoral and allegorical
scenes.
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Tole: lacquered tin.
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Torchère: a tall lamp which casts light toward the ceiling used
especially with art deco style.
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Trompe l'oeil: "to fool the eye," a 2
dimensional painting of real objects having a 3 dimensional effect.
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Trumeau: decorative treatment used over mirrors, windows,
doors or mantels. Used often in Louis XV & Louis XVI periods.
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Vermeil: gilded metal.
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Vernis Martin: French lacquer from the 18th c perfected by the Martin
brothers. They were given a Privilège by Louis XV.
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X-frame stools: has legs in an X shape.
