ABC’s of Basic Furniture Terminology

1. ABC’s of Basic Furniture Terminology Mrs. Keeports Interior Design

2. Acanthus Leaf • A carved detail of a common Mediterranean leaf

3. Apron • A piece of wood that goes across the bottom of a chest

4. Ball Foot • Furniture foot shaped like a ball; round

5. Bun Foot • Furniture foot shaped like a bun; oval

6. Breakfront • Piece of furniture, such as a cabinet or bookcase, with a central section that projects or curves out beyond the sections on either side

7. Burl • A swirled, speckled veneer

8. Cabriole Leg • Type of furniture leg that curves outward at the “knee”, then inward at the base or “foot”. Often seen in Queen Anne furniture

9. Camel Back • Back of a sofa that has a “hump” or camel’s back in the center

10. Claw & Ball Foot • Leg of a chair carved from wood that looks like a bird’s claw perched on a ball. Often used by Chippendale

11. Dovetail • Type of joint that joins drawer corners together by interlocking them

12. Dust board • A board separating a drawer space from the one above or below it. Found inside the cabinet.

13. Fiddle back Splat • Splat of a chair shaped like a violin

14. Finial • A decorative finish or ornament fount at the top of furniture such as a chair. Sometimes in the shape of an urn, flame, flower or leaf.

15. Paw Foot • Base of a leg of furniture. Often carved to resemble and animal's paw

16. Gate leg • A swinging leg that supports the leaf of a table.

17. In-Lay Wood • Wood of a contrasting color or texture inset into a surface

18. Knee • Out curved upper area of a cabriole leg

19. Knob turning • Turning/carving done in a series of knob-like shapes on the leg of a piece of furniture

20. Ladder back • A horizontal back and splat on a chair resembling a section of a ladder

21. Lyre • A decorative design based on the classic Greek form of the harp

22. Patina • A mellow quality of color and texture that furniture surfaces acquire with age

23. Pediment • The ornamental top surrounding a tall piece of furniture often "broken" in the center

24. Pembroke Table • Drop leaf table where central fixed leaf is twice as wide as the drop leafs.

25. Piecrust Table • Circular tilt-top table with a raised rim

26. Reeding • A series of rounded, closely set beads usually carved out of wood

27. Spindle • Narrow wood strips on a hoop backed chair

28. Splat • The piece of wood in the middle of a chair back

29. Stretcher • Wood that connects the upright legs of a chair or table

30. Veneer • A thin layer of wood glued on to a base piece of wood for decorative effect or contrasting color