Glossary D-L

Dentil A small square of wood, when arranged in a row referred to as a dentil moulding and used as part of a classical cornice.

Diaper Diamond shaped ornament carved in low relief.

Dovetail joint A method of jointing two pieces of wood at right angles with interlocking wedges.

Drum table A circular table with drawers around its edge.

Ear Shaped block of wood attached to the top of a leg.

Ebonised Wood stained and polished black to resemble ebony.

Egg and dart Carved moulding consisting of alternating ovals and vertical arrowheads or darts

Entablature The upper part of a classical order, consisting of an architrave, frieze and a cornice. Usually supported by columns.

Featherbanding Two strips of veneer laid together with the grain at approximately 45 degrees. Sometimes called herringbone and usually associated with walnut furniture.

Festoon A suspended rope of fruit and flowers tied together with ribbons hanging down in drooping curve.

Fiddleback Stripy pattern formed by grain of wood. Often seen on the back of a violin.

Figure A general term used to describe the pattern of the grain in wood.

Flambeau Representation of a flame used as a finial.

Fluting A series of repeating concave grooves.

Frieze Strictly the part of an entablature between the architrave and the cornice. Used to describe a horizontal rail supporting a table top.

Fret A repeating geometric design comprising of vertical and horizontal lines. One example is the Greek key.

Gadrooning A type of moulding consisting of repeated carved convex ovals, resembling clenched knuckles.

Gainsborough chair A rectangular open armchair originating on the 18 century.

Gesso A mixture of powdered chalk and glue which is used as a base coat under paint and gold leaf. Will take fine carved detail.

Gilding The application of a thin layer of gold to an object. Wood can be gilded using either oil or water gilding. Water gilding can be burnished to a high finish whilst oil gilding is less lustrous. Both involve the application of thin sheets of gold leaf.

Guilloche Decorative motif consisting of two bands intertwined in a continuous figure of eight.

Harlequin table Small writing table with a concealed rising section with pigeon hole and drawers.

Hutch A medieval food cupboard.

Intarsia An early Italian form of marquetry.

Japanning Western method of varnishing intended to imitate oriental lacquer work. Uses various recipes of varnish based on shellac applied over gesso.

Jardiniere A stand for flower pots.

Kidney table A kidney shaped table used as a dressing table or writing table.

Lacquer Oriental varnish derived from the sap of the Rhus verniciflua tree. The term is often confused with western japanning and is often used to describe any type of varnish. It is also used to describe a modern coating based on cellulose nitrate.

Linenfold Carved detail that imitates folded cloth and associated with oak furniture.

Lopers Rails that support a fall front on a bureau

Lunette A carved arch shaped motif associated with early oak furniture.

Marquetry The cutting of decorative patterns in veneer using different woods and other materials. Applied to the surface of furniture.

Mazarin French kneehole desk often decorated with marquetry and boullework

Medullary rays Cells in wood that radiate out through the growth rings. Visible on quarter sawn timber in some woods notably oak.

Mortise Rectangular recess to take a tenon and form a mortise and tenon joint.

Mother of pearl Iridescent substance lining the shells of molluscs and used as a decorative inlay.

Muntin A vertical member between two panels.