Abaca
A strong fiber derived from the leaves and stems of a banana plant native to the Philippines. Also known as Manila Hemp, this fiber is used to make everything from baskets and rope to furniture. The plant is cut down during harvesting, but the roots remain and put forth new growth.
Aniline Dyed Leather
Leather that has been soaked in a transparent dye, allowing the natural character of the hide-the wrinkles and grain-to show through. Only the finest hides are dyed this way, since any undesirable flaws would remain visible.
Antique Finish (or Antiquing)
A finish or patina that creates an illusion of age. For rugs, a washing procedure tones or antiques a rug. Furniture, wood and objects are painted, stained or textured to create an aged look.
Appliqué
Decorative needlework in which shapes cut from one fabric are stitched to the surface of another.
Apron
On a table, upholstered seating or a dresser, an apron is a wooden panel surrounding the lower part of the piece, connecting the the upper portion to the legs.
Armoire
A large, freestanding cupboard with shelves, drawers and a hanging rod, and frequently finished with full-length doors. Used for storing clothing, concealing entertainment cabinet or holding household linens.
Art Deco (also Deco)
An aesthetic movement of the early 20th century (1910s - 1930s) characterized by opulence, grandeur and modernity. Streamline Moderne (also called simply Streamline, or, often, just Moderne) is a subset of Art Deco style.
Asian Style
A general term referring to styles of the Far East, such as Chinese, Japanese or Korean designs Furniture with Asian characteristics is a popular subset of contemporary style.
Baffle-Box Construction
A type of tailoring used in duvets and comforters to keep the fill evenly distributed for optimal insulation. The top and bottom pieces of fabric are not stitched to each other; rather, walls called "baffles" create interior chambers, each holding a portion of the fill.
Baker's Rack
Commonly a tall, open, slatted-back shelving unit used for storing kitchen items like cookbooks, wine and dry goods. Most commonly made of wood and metal or a combination of the two, and often with deeper shelves on the bottom and smaller shelves on the top.
Baluster
The support beneath a banister or railing. Used to describe any object or vertical member (such as a table leg, a lamp base or the stem of a glass) having a similarly turned outline. A balustrade is a series of balusters.
Bamboo Turning
Style of turning and painting wood to resemble bamboo. Popular in the 19th century, it adds an exotic decorative touch.
Bar
A counter-like piece of furniture or built-in cabinetry typically used for mixing and serving drinks.
Barrel Chair
A chair with a fully rounded back, inspired by rustic chairs originally made from halved wine barrels.
Beading
Decorative edging in the form of a row of close-set spheres or half-spheres. Often seen on picture frames.
Bed Frame (or Bed Base/Frame)
A frame or platform designed to support a mattress, or a mattress and box spring. Usually made of metal or wood, with legs used to raise the bed off of the floor; headboards can be attached to most bed frames. Find bed frames and bedroom furnishings.
Bed Rails
Metal strips or wooden boards that join a bed's headboard and footboard and also support the mattress set. Most bed-rail styles have hook-on or bolt-on designs.
Bergère
A traditional French style of upholstered armchair, with an exposed wood frame (at the legs, and sometimes at the back). In England, the term is often used to describe chairs with caned sides and backs.
Bisque
Pottery (porcelain or other ceramic) that is fired but not glazed, resulting in a matte surface.
Bobeches
A flanged rim at the top of a candlestick designed to catch wax drippings. Often these are incorporated in the design of the candlestick, but they can also be separate, and removable, disks of glass, metal or ceramic. On electric chandeliers, they can appear as decorative elements, sometimes hung with crystals.
Bone China
A type of porcelain in which the clay is mixed with ox bone ash, lending it durability, whiteness and a lovely translucent quality. The recipe for fine bone china was perfected by Josiah Spode I in England in the 18th century.
Box-Stitch Construction
The top and bottom pieces of a duvet or comforter are quilted together in a square grid pattern. The "boxes" hold the fill in place so that it doesn't shift, lump or gather unevenly.
Bun Foot
In furniture, a flattened ball, or bun-shaped, foot with a slender ankle above.
Burl
Wood cut from a large rounded growth on a tree. Burl is characterized by a strong, distinctive grain and is often used as a special veneer or inlay.
Cabriole Leg
A decorative S-shaped table or chair leg that curves outward at the knee, tapers inward to the ankle, then curves back outward to the foot. Commonly found on Queen Anne, Rococo, Chippendale and other 18th-century pieces. Often paired with ball-and-claw feet.
California King
A bed size that measures 74"W x 86"L. This style is popular on the West Coast of the United States. The additional size comes in the length, creating a rectangular shape rather than the square shape of a standard king (Eastern King). Find a mattress set.
Camelback
A sofa or seat back with a gentle curve at the top that resembles a camel's back.
Campaign
The name given to furniture pieces designed to accompany high-ranking military officers to the field. The wars (or campaigns) of Imperial France and England saw tents furnished with folding desks, tables and chairs, chests that stacked to form bureaus and even four-poster beds that could be assembled on site. Today, the term applies to these antiques as well as to new furnishings created to look or function like the portable originals.
Caning
A method of weaving often used for chair seats and backs. Generally executed with the skin of the rattan, a vine-like palm plant common in the Philippines and Indonesia.
Carrara Marble
White marble quarried from the hills of Tuscany in Italy. Prized for its brilliance and translucence, this is the marble Michelangelo used to sculpt the David. Can have silvery gray veins that lend each piece unique character.
Case Goods (or Case Furniture)
Non-upholstered furniture pieces, such as tables, hutches, dressers and chests, that have functional or storage capabilities.
Cashmere
A soft, warm wool derived from the fine, downy underfleece of the Cashmere (or Kashmir) goat, which lives on the high plateaus of Asia. The fibers that are spun into cashmere yarn are combed from the goat during its natural molting cycle in the spring.
Caster
A rolling wheel that adds mobility to furniture.
Charmeuse
A soft, smooth satin-like fabric, often woven from silk, with a lustrous front and a matte, or crepe, back.
Chamfered
Corners that are cut off, or beveled. A shaping technique often used for the front corners of dressers and cabinets.
Chenille
From the French word for "caterpillar." A fuzzy yarn with pile on all sides, which produces a soft, nubbly woven or knit fabric.
Chesterfield
A sofa or seat with deep button tufting plus arms and a back of the same height.
Chinoiserie
Romanticized (and often Westernized) Chinese style, most popular during the 17th and 18th centuries in decorative arts, including the paintings of Antoine Watteau, porcelain by Meissen, and - perhaps most famously - the furniture of Thomas Chippendale.
Corner-Blocked
Supported at the corner joints by an added brace, or block, of wood.
Corner Loops
Loops that are sewn into the top corners of a duvet cover, allowing the duvet insert to be tied into the cover so the duvet does not shift inside.
Coverlet
A decorative top cover for a bed.
Crewel Embroidery or Crewelwork
A decorative surface embroidery, traditionally in wool but done in many thread styles, composed of chainlike stitches that follow an outlined design.
Crystal
From the Greek for ice, crystal is a term for a clear, colorless glass made with lead oxide, which gives it a high refraction index, or brilliant sparkle.
Damask
Originating with ornamental silks from Damascus, damask now refers to any fabric with a pattern, in white or color, woven in. On the back side, the colors reverse.
Daybed
A sofa, settee or other seating that can also serve as a bed.
Delftware
Earthenware, most often decorated in cobalt blue on tin-glazed white, first popular in the 17th and 18th centuries. Traditionally made near the town of Delft in the Netherlands, it was inspired by pottery imported from China by the Dutch East India Company.
Dhurrie
A flatwoven wool or cotton rug from India; similar to a kilim. Very colorful and durable.
Distressed (or Distressing)
A texturing effect created by roughing, denting or otherwise marking a surface to create an antique, used or rustic appearance.
Dobby
A decorative fabric weave, usually in the form of small geometric patterns. Often used to denote the flat-woven (non-looped) decorative band at either end of a bath towel.
Double-Dowling
A method of joinery in which the joint is reinforced by a pair of wood pins, or dowels.
Dovetail Joinery
A method of joinery in which a tenon, or tongue, of wood, shaped like a dove's tail, tightly and precisely interlocks with a similar tongue from another piece of wood, somewhat like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Difficult and time-consuming to create, dovetail joins are a mark of fine craftsmanship.
Dowel
A headless pin, usually made of wood, used to reinforce wood construction.
Down Fill
One of the best fills for pillows, comforters, blankets and bed toppers, down is the light, soft, fluffy undercoating from the breasts of geese and ducks. A natural fiber, down consists of clusters of light, fluffy filaments growing from quill points but without a quill shaft, such as feathers have.
Drawer Guides (or Glides)
The track or runners that allow a drawer to slide freely and evenly in a piece of furniture such as a dresser. There are many types, including wooden center guides, metal glides with rollers and metal ball-bearing guides.
Drop Front
The hinged front of an upright desk that drops down to provide a surface for writing.
Drop-Lid Desk
A desk with a hinged panel that covers the inner compartments.
Duvet Cover
A large pillowcase-like covering that fits over a duvet insert. It is open on one end, typically closed by buttons or a zipper.
Earthenware
A ceramic material made from clay with quartz and feldspar. It can be red, white or tan before glazing.
Ebony
A very dark wood (almost black) with a dark grain, from Africa, Madagascar, Gabon or Ceylon. Also used to describe a stained finish that is nearly black, but still transparent (as opposed to paint, which is opaque).
Engineered Wood
Wood made from slices of lumber (plywood) or from the chips and fibers that remain after a tree is milled into lumber (particleboard, fiberboard).
English Arm
A low, curved arm on an upholstered chair or sofa. This style of arm originated at a time when voluminous skirts were all the rage, and was intended to make sitting easier for women wearing layers of crinolines, hoops and petticoats.
Egyptian Cotton
Very high quality cotton with fine, long-staple fibers that make for exceptionally smooth, soft yarns.
Eight-Way Hand-Tied
Refers to a type of support system used in upholstered furniture, in which coiled steel springs are secured to each other and the frame by being tied in eight directions. This creates an even surface and ensures that the springs move uniformly.
Etagère
A freestanding open-sided shelving unit.
Faceted
A decorative surface cut into sharp-edged planes that create a highly reflective crisscross pattern.
Faux
A simulation; for example, faux marble is a painted finish that gives the look of marble to furniture, walls or other surfaces. See also trompe l'oeil.
Finial
A decorative ball, spire or knob. Found (among other places) at the tops of bedposts, on the lids of covered dishes, at either end of a curtain rod and at the top of a lamp, where it generally screws on to hold the shade on the harp.
Finish
The surface coating of an item, which can include paint, stain, varnish, fabric treatment, etc. Wood, metal, fabric, stone and many other materials require a finish for coloring, texture, and protection from moisture.
Flanged Shams
A pillow cover with a decorative edge that is straighter and more tailored than a ruffle.
Flare
The outward-curving shape of a furniture leg.
Flat-Weave Rugs
Weaving in which no knots are used and no pile is created; for example, a kilim, cicim or soumak. The weft strands are simply passed through the warp strands, and the finished rug has a smooth, flat surface.
Fretwork
Geometrical, openwork designs created by interlocking pieces of wood or metal. These designs often have an Oriental influence, as seen in Art Deco and Chippendale-style furnishings.
Giclée
(Pronounced "zhee-clay") A plateless method of fine art printing in which images are scanned and digitally stored, then reproduced using a high-resolution printer. The process uses specialized inks and high-quality paper to create rich, nuanced, long-lasting prints. The word Giclée is French for "to spray" and is a registered trade name for the IRIS printer.
Grommet
An eyelet of firm material to strengthen or protect an opening or to insulate or protect something passed through it..
Habutai
Plainweave silk that is very lightweight and soft. Originally woven on Japanese hand looms, but now generally machine woven.
Hand Distressing
Giving an object or a piece of furniture an aged look by strategically marring its surface by hand.
Hand Knotted Rugs
Rugs, often Asan or Middle Eastern, made by weavers who hand knot the yarns around the warp fibers that run the length of the rug. Different rug-making regions, such as Tibet, have their own distinctive type of knot.
Hardwoods
Durable, long-lasting and hard wood derived from trees that lose their leaves in winter, including oak, ash, cherry, maple and walnut.
Herringbone Weave
A type of twill weave in which the chevron pattern alternates direction, creating a zigzag effect or the illusion of stripes.
Hemp
A natural fiber, derived from the hemp plant. Used to make durable rugs, paper and even fabric.
Hemstitching
A decorative stitch created by removing horizontal threads from woven fabric and bundling clusters of vertical threads at regular intervals. The technique creates a row of tiny openwork squares or diamonds.
Houndstooth Check
A geometric pattern made up of squares with drawn-out corners that link them together. Named for the resemblance of these corners to the fangs of a dog.
Ikat or Ikkat
A style of weaving that uses a resist-dyeing process similar to tie-dye on either the warp or weft. The process creates a pattern on the yarns before they are woven into patterns, which are characterized by geometric designs that have soft, feathery lines and colors that merge into one another. In a double ikat, both the warp and the weft are resist-dyed before weaving.
Innerspring Cushion
A chair or sofa cushion with springs at its core. Provides long-lasting resiliency and support.
Jacquard
A type of weaving, named for its French inventor, in which each warp yarn is controlled separately to create an intricate pattern or design. Varieties of jacquard-woven textiles include damask, brocade and tapestry.
Kilim
A flatwoven rug traditional to Turkey, North Africa, Iran, Pakistan, the Caucasus and Afghanistan, among other areas.
Kiln-Dried
Wood that is heat-dried in a kiln. By alternating heat and humidity, the wood is carefully dried and stabilized, to reduce the chances of warping, checking, splitting or twisting.
Knotted Pile
The type of weaving most associated with oriental rugs. To create the pile, tufts of wool are wrapped around one or more (usually two) warp threads, then tied individually, one row at a time, and held in place by ground wefts. The process is very different from the making of hooked rugs, in which tufts of wool are poked into loosely woven fabric.
Ladder-Back
A chair back with a ladder effect created by horizontal crossbars, which are used in place of a vertical splat.
Lathe-Carved
A lathe is a rotating tool that spins a block of wood, metal, glass or other material so that when cutting or forming tools are touched to the block they shape the block symmetrically. This technique is often used to shape table legs and bedposts.
Lattice
Openwork wood decoration in a crisscross, diagonal or square pattern
Lyre
A bow-shaped section of a piece of furniture, so named because it resembles a harp.
Matelassé
French for "cushioned or padded." A double-cloth weave that creates fabric with a quilted look, though there is no batting or fill involved.
Matte Finish
A low-gloss finish or seal.
Miter Joint (or Mitered Corner)
The diagonal joint formed at the intersection of two pieces of wood whose ends are cut at angles and fitted together. For example, the joint at the side or head casing of a doorway is made at a 45-degree angle. Mitered joints produce a smooth, even and nicely finished look.
Modular Seating
Matching seating pieces, such as corners, chaises and slipper chairs, that can be joined and rearranged with other units to form different arrangements.
Mohair
Wool from the angora goat. Springy, lofty and very warm. Unlike cashmere, which is judged by softness, the quality of mohair is judged by luster.
Momme
A Japanese unit of weight equal to 3.75 grams, momme (pronounced "mummy") is a standard measure of the weight of silk (and a common way to measure pearls). The greater the momme weight, the heavier the silk; for example, an 8-momme silk is extremely light, and 22-momme silk is heavy enough for suiting.
Mortise-and-Tenon Joinery
Introduced in the 16th century, this is an efficient method for joining two pieces of wood, especially for cabinetry. A mortise is the hole cut in one piece of wood to snuggly receive the specially shaped tenon, or projection of the other. The joint may also be glued and/or pegged with a dowel.
Natural Finish
A transparent finish that doesn't significantly alter the original grain or color of the natural wood. Natural finishes are usually created with oils, varnishes or similar materials.
Nest of Tables
A set of occasional tables that are graduated in size; they slide one beneath the other to save space when not in use.
Ogee
A decorative S-shaped molding.
Ogee Bevel
A classical double-curve molding used to edge wood and stone, such as dresser tops and granite countertops.
Oushak (Ushak)
A town of west central Turkey with a tradition of rug production that began as early as the 15th century. It is most famous for its 16th-century star, medallion and prayer-rug designs. Traditional Oushak rugs have wool pile on wool foundation, and most are crudely made, with low knot counts. Most Oushak rugs have a medallion design or a symmetrical allover pattern.
Oxford Cloth
Lightweight cotton (or sometimes cotton blend) in a plain 2 x 2 or 4 x 2 weave, often used for men's shirting.
Paisley
Originally associated with a type of fine wool shawl woven in the town of Paisley, Scotland, this term has come to apply to the Indian-inspired patterns those shawls made popular in the 1800s. In particular, the word has become associated with the prevailing motif: a teardrop shape with a curved tail.
Parsons Table
A clean-lined, squared table with legs and apron of equal widths. The name is derived from the Parsons School of Design, where the table was developed during the 1950s. Find dining tables.
Pedestal Table
A table whose top is supported by a single center base or column.
Percale
A lightweight, plain weave fabric-usually cotton-often used for sheeting.
Pile
The plush face of the rug, created by the cut ends of the yarns.
Piqué
Tightly woven fabric with raised ribs or cords. Waffle-weave pique is traditionally used for polo shirts and tennis togs.
Pima Cotton
Very high-quality, long-staple cotton grown in the United States, Australia, Israel and Peru. Quite strong, and similar to Egyptian cotton in softness and smoothness.
Porcelain
A hard ceramic material made from pure clay. Creates wares that are strong, fine and translucent.
Primaloft
A synthetic filler that closely mimics the structure and performance of down.
Raffia
A tropical palm that can produce leaves 80 feet long. The dried leaves can be cut into strips and woven to create upholstery fabric, baskets, floor coverings and more.
Rattan
A vine-like palm plant common in the Philippines and Indonesia. The skin is typically used in caning, while the core is used to create wicker furniture and baskets.
Rolled Arms
Arms that flare out and then down to meet the sides of a chair or sofa.
Saber Leg
A leg that has a saber-like curve.
Sateen
Cotton fabric loomed with fill yarns that float over warp yarns to create a smooth, satiny hand and a lustrous finish.
Secretary/ Secretaire
Writing cabinets with fronts that open outward to form a writing surface. Secretaries often have bookshelves above and drawers below.
Seersucker
Light to medium-weight fabric woven with varying levels of tension on the warp yarns to create puckered stripes that alternate with smooth stripes. Traditional for summer suits.
Serpentine Front
A curved profile on the front of a desk or chest.
Shagreen
Leather made from the skin of a shark or ray. A popular luxury material in the court of Louis XV of France, it resurged in popularity during the Art Deco movement.
Sideboard
Often used in the dining room, this long, low cabinet has drawers or open shelves for displaying plates, crystal, silver and other serveware; the top is often used for display and for holding platters of food during a meal. Find a sideboard or china cabinet.
Silk Dupioni
Pure silk, woven from double cocoons of the silkworm. The intertwined strands create a unique slubby texture, similar to that of linen but with silk's rich luster.
Sinuous Springs
Heavy-gauge steel springs that have been heat formed into continuous "S" shapes. Often used in sofa and seat backs.
Sisal
Fiber made from the sword-shaped leaves of the Agave sisalana plant. Highly durable. Often used to make rugs and rope.
Slubbed Cotton
Cotton yarns loomed with soft thick that create a textured effect.
Square Leg
A four-sided leg of equal dimensions on all sides, resembling a fence post, used to support a piece of furniture such as a coffee table or dining table.
Stainless Steel (18/10)
A corrosion-resistant alloy of steel and chromium. 18/10 stainless contains 18% chromium and 10% nickel, making it extra durable and highly resistant to rust and corrosion.
Sultanabad Rug
Sultanabad is a region of Iran legendary for its carpets. In 1883, a British manufacturer called Zeigler set up shop in the region, employing the master rug weavers of the area to create carpets with designs and colors that would appeal to European tastes. Today, this term is associated with the softer palettes and all-over patterns Zeigler helped to popularize.
Suzani
An antique and decorative tribal textile made in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries. Its name is from the Persian "suzan," which means "needle." In Persian, the art of making such textiles is called "suzank_ri" (needlework).
Tapered Leg
A leg that becomes narrower from top (knee) to foot.
Tartan
Often used interchangeably with the word "plaid," a tartan is actually a length of wool, woven in a specific and complex pattern (most often plaid, but occasionally stripes and-in the case of the Duke of Argyle-diamonds) that served as the standard of a Scottish clan, or family.
Tea Stain
An herbal or chemical wash used to lend carpets an antique appearance. Tea-staining deepens and softens the colors.
Tempered Glass
Glass that is heated above its annealing temperature and then quickly cooled to increase its strength. Tempered glass is not unbreakable, but if it does break, it shatters into blunt, square pieces, rather than sharp shards.
Thread Count
The total number of horizontal (weft) and vertical (warp) threads in one square inch of fabric. The higher the thread count, the tighter the weave.
Toile (or Toile de Jouy)
A French word for cloth or fabric, it became synonymous with printed textiles created by using engraved copper rollers, a technique popularized in Jouy, France in the 18th Century. Today, "toile" has come to mean any print that mimics the original style: generally a romanticized landscape or floral, rendered in a single color, in a fine-lined style that resembles an etching or pen-and-ink drawing.
Top-Grain Leather
The top layer of a hide and its strongest, most durable part.
Topstitching
Visible stitching on the right side of a garment used as a decorative, as well as functional, detail.
Towel Gram Weight
Gram weight describes how much terrycloth weighs in grams per square meter. A towel's gram weight indicates the thickness and density of the terrycloth used to make it, rather than the weight of the towel itself.
Track Arm
Also called square arm. A linear, modern style of sofa or chair with upholstered arms squared-off at a clean right angle.
Transferware
A style of decorating ceramic wares, including pottery, dinnerware and serving pieces. It uses transfer printing, a technique developed in England in the mid-18th century and perfected in the Staffordshire region.
The process starts with an engraved copper plate similar to those used for making paper engravings. The plate is used to print the pattern on tissue paper, then the tissue paper transfers the wet ink to the ceramic surface. The ceramic is then fired in a low-temperature kiln to fix the pattern. This can be done over or under the glaze, but the underglaze printing method results in a more durable decoratoin. The process produces fine lines similar to the engraved prints in antique books. Before transfer printing, ceramics were hand painted, a laborious and costly process.
Trestle Table
A long, narrow table with two T-shaped uprights that are joined by a single stretcher for added support. Find a dining table.
Triple-Milled Soaps
Triple-milled, or French-milled, soaps have a smooth and uniform texture, without impurities, and they last longer than other types of soap. After the soap formula is mixed, it is dried into crystals, then rolled ("milled") at least three times between large stainless-steel rollers until a paste is formed. The paste is then pressed into soap molds.
Triple-Milling (also French Milling)
Soap-making method in which impurities are removed over several phases, creating a pure, hard and long-lasting bar of soap that produces a generous, creamy lather.
Tuxedo Arms
Tuxedo Arms are the same height as the back of the seat or sofa. Some tuxedo arms also flare outward slightly.
Tweed
A course-weave woolen fabric (in twill, plain or herringbone weave) with colored, slubbed yarns incorporated for a subtle confetti-like effect.
Twill
A basic weave characterized by diagonal wales, which, when alternated across the face of the fabric, produce a herringbone pattern.
Variegated
A number of different colors (as in variegated yarn), or sizes (as in variegated stripes), combined.
Vanity Table
A usually small dressing table with a drawer and mirror for styling hair, applying makeup, etc., generally used in a bedroom, large closet or dressing room.
Vegetable Dyes
Dyes derived from insects, from the earth or from natural materials, including madder root, indigo, milkweed, pomegranate, osage, cutch and cochineal.
Vellum
Traditionally made from pigskin, sheepskin or calfskin, vellum is a thin, translucent sheet of specially treated leather. In medieval times it was used for writing manuscripts. Even after it was replaced in this capacity by paper, it continued to be used for book bindings.
Veneer
A thin sheet of choice wood applied, often decoratively, to the surface of wood furniture. There is archeological evidence to suggest that the Egyptians used veneers 3000-5000 years ago, but the technique was perfected by fine furniture craftsman of the 18th century, including Sheraton and Hepplewhite.
Welting
Thick piping that accentuates the seams of upholstered furniture.
Wicker
Woven goods, including furniture and baskets, often made from the core of the rattan plant, a vine-like palm.
Yarn-Dyed
A technique for coloring textiles that involves dying the yarn prior to weaving or knitting. Yarn-dyed, woven textiles are often more fade-resistant than batch-dyed or printed textiles.
Zebrawood
An African wood that has a light sapwood and a dark grain, producing zebra-like strips when quarter sawn.
