Cable: A molding design that resembles inter-twined rope.
Cabochon: A gem shaped ornament of convex, hemispherical form.
Cabriole Leg: A decorative S-shaped table or chair leg that curves outward at the knee then tapers at the ankle. Commonly found on Queen Anne, Chippendale and other 18th Century pieces. Often seen with ball and claw feet.
Café Curtain: A curtain that covers only the bottom half of a window and hangs from a wire or thin curtain rod. Find curtains.
Calico: Cotton or cotton-blend fabric printed with small, colorful patterns.
California King: A bed size that measures 74"x86". 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.
Cambrick (or Dust Cover): A non-woven cloth that covers the bottom of an upholstered piece of furniture such as a sofa or box spring. Also commonly called a "dust cover".
Camelback: A curved sofa back characterized by a large central hump. This design was often used by Chippendale and Hepplewhite. Find a sofa.
Campaign Furniture: Portable furniture that's folding or collapsible, or made of flat components that can be assembled or disassembled. Initiated for military use and usually features handles, it is most associated with colonialism.
Canape: A type of French settee with padded back and seat, open arms, and a decorated frame. Most commonly associated with Louis the XV design.
Candle Follower: A device that fits onto the top of a candle. As the wax melts the follower keeps the wax from dripping down the side of the candle. Find a candle accessory.
Cane: Split rattan, often used to cover chair seats and backs.
Cane Chair: These chairs were first made in England and were very popular since they were cheap, light and durable. First used in America in the late 1600's.
Canopy: A fabric covering attached to a frame at the top of bedposts.
Canopy Bed: A bed supported by four tall posts with a cross members joining the posts that may be used for a supporting a fabric canopy cover, swags, curtains, etc. Find bedroom furniture.
Canted: Slopping at an angle, such as a sofa or chair back.
Canterbury: A portable magazine rack named after the Bishop of England.
Cantonniere: A bed hanging used in 16th Century France. It hung outside of the bed curtains to prevent drafts.
Capping: A turned ornamentation used to make furniture pieces more decorative.
Captain's Chair: A Windsor chair with a lower, rounded spindle back. Find a dining chair.
Carcase: The basic structure of a piece of furniture; often forms the foundation for veneering.
Card Table: A folding table that originated in England during the late 1600's to accommodate the nobility's passion for gambling.
Carlton Table: An 18th Century writing table that featured an adjustable top.
Carolean: Restoration and Late Jacobean furniture is also known as Carolean furniture. Carolean furniture includes Charles the second through James the second reign. This period of furniture is a result of Cromwellian severity in shape and style. Carolean furniture is appealing because of its beautifully carved spiral turned legs and stretchers. Chairs, tables, and beds usually have scroll shaped feet. Seats are often made of cane. Upholstery fabrics are luxurious tapestries. The most common wood used was walnut. Some pieces were made of oak.
Cartonnier: A piece of furniture that took on many various forms. It usually stood at the side of a writing table to hold papers.
Cartouche: An ornamental shield or decoration usually placed above a door opening or fireplace mantel, often containing the name of a king, queen, or deity. Term also applies to a sculpture or back ornament in the form of an unrolled scroll.
Carved Rug: A rug with a three-dimensional design/pattern. Find an area rug.
Carver Chair: A modern term for a 17th Century "Dutch" type of arm chair that featured turned posts and spindles.
Caryatid: A top member of a pedestal or leg used for support in the form of a conventionalized human figure.
Casegoods (or Case Furniture): Non-upholstery pieces such as tables, hutches, dressers and chests, which have functional or storage capabilities.
Casein (or Buttermilk): A traditional paint made by blending earth colored pigments with buttermilk (or skimmed milk) and a small amount of lime. Casein dries to a flat, smooth finish.
Casement: A cloth drapery made of an open weave material that's normally somewhat opaque. Find curtains.
Casing: An enclosing frame around a door or window opening.
Cassapanca: A wooden bench with a built-in chest under the seat.
Cassone: Italian chest, often highly decorated with carving and inlay.
Cast Iron Furniture: Iron furnishings made with molds. Very popular since the 1800's for many items including garden furniture, plant stands and cast iron beds.
Casters: Round wheels attached by a swivel to furniture pieces for mobility. Commonly used on dining and office chairs.
Casting: The method of forming metal objects by pouring molten metal into a mold and allowing in to harden.
Causeuse: A small settee that was very popular in early French furniture.
Ceiling Fan: Both decorative and functional fans, which are installed on the ceiling to circulate air in a room. Find a ceiling fan.
Cellaret: A case on legs or a stand for wine bottles.
Center Draw: A pair of draperies which open and close at a window's mid point. Find draperies and curtains.
Center Glide: A center track (glide) that guides a drawer.
Center Rail: A support beam that runs head to toe down the middle of a mattress foundation or bed frame for added support.
Centerpiece: An ornament used to occupy the center of a dining table. Find home accessories.
Ceramic Tiles: Glazed clay tiles, which stand up to large amounts of wear and tear very well.
Certosina: An ivory inlay found on some fine Italian antique furniture.
Chair and a Half: An upholstered seating piece that's larger than a armchair, but not as large as a loveseat. Find a living room chair.
Chair Rail: A molding placed on a wall about thirty inches from the floor to protect the wall from being scratched by chair's back.
Chaise Lounge: An upholstered armchair with the back and seat lengthened for reclining. Styles ranges from formal to contemporary. Also referred to by some as a French long chair. Find a chaise lounge chair.
Chambray: A popular variety of cotton fabric that combines colored warp and white filling yarns in a plain weave.
Chamfer: A corner or edge that is cut at an angle or beveled.
Chandelier: A ceiling-mounted lighting fixture consisting of two or more arms bearing lights. Styles can range from small and simple to extremely large and ornate. Find a chandelier.
Channel Back: A sofa or chair with a back design of vertical sections of cushioning in a shell-like pattern. Find a sofa.
Channel Quilt: Stitching in lines that run parallel to the length or width of a fabric.
Channeling: A grooved or creased effect in wood.
Charles of London: A style of sofa or chair with a low rolled arm. Find living room furniture.
Chased: A metal surface that's ornamented by embossing, engraving or carving.
Checks: Splits or cracks in wood, which are ordinarily caused by seasoning. A common characteristic of genuine cherry wood pieces.
Chenille: A fuzzy yarn that is like velvet when tightly woven.
Chesser: A combination of a dresser and a chest. Chessers are narrower than a dresser and shorter than a chest, and normally have a small tilting mirror. Find bedroom furniture.
Chest: A tall, narrow piece featuring a series of drawers for storing clothing. Find a chest of drawers.
Chest on Chest: A tall chest with a larger chest of drawers that supports a slightly smaller chest. Find a chest of drawers.
Chesterfield: A sofa style with deep button tufting and large rolled arms that are the same height as the back. Term is still common in Canada and England. Find a sofa.
Cheval Mirror: A freestanding mirror swung in a vertical frame. Also called a dressing mirror or cheval glass. Find a cheval mirror.
Chevron: A V-shaped ornamentation inspired by military insignia.
Chiffonier: A tall and narrow chest of drawers normally used for storing undergarments and lingerie. Term is a French word denoting a lady's work table, derived from chiffons, which means rags. Term can also be used in reference to a lingerie chest or highboy. Find bedroom furniture.
Chifforobe: A combination of wardrobe and chest-of-drawers. Find bedroom furniture.
China Cabinet (or China Hutch): A cabinet with with, or without, glass fronts to store and display china, the sides may or may not feature glass. Seldom found in America before the late 1700's. Find a china cabinet.
Chinese: Chinese art and furniture design heavily influenced European furniture periods, particularly during the 1500's through the 1800's. Styles especially influenced include Chippendale, Regency, and Louis the XV styles. All Chinese furniture is lacquered and usually features relief carving for decoration. Most pieces are small and simple and rely on decorative details for their beauty. Most common woods on authentic pieces were teak, sandalwood, and bamboo. Chinese rugs and wallpaper are famous throughout the world.
Chinoiserie: A decoration inspired by Chinese art, which can be painted or lacquered on furniture or used as themes on wallpaper, fabric, etc.
Chintz: A printed cotton fabric that is often "shiny" or glazed.
Chippendale: A design that's more rectangular and heavier than Queen Anne pieces. Chippendale design features include cabriole legs, ball and claw feet, and highboys with broken pediment tops.
Cinquefoil: Term refers to a any five petaled design.
Claw & Ball (or Ball & Claw): A carved lions or birds claw clutching a sphere, usually at the end of a cabriole leg or pedestal tables base.
Club Chair: An upholstered chair with arms, normally made to match a sofa and covered in the same material. Find a living room chair.
Club Foot: A turned foot resembling a club; often found at the end of a cabriole leg.
Club Sofa: A fully upholstered piece of furniture with arms that are lower than its back. Find a sofa.
Cockbeading: Bead molding applied to the edges of drawers.
Cocktail Table (or Coffee Table): A long and low table normally positioned in front of a sofa, which provides a surface for serving. Find a coffee table.
Coffer: A multi-functional traveling chest with handles and a domed lid but without feet, usually made of oak. Term can also refer to a chest or box covered in leather or some other material and banded with metalwork.
Coil Count: The specific number of coils in a mattress or box spring unit. The standard count is based on the coils within a full size piece. A high coil count was once touted to indicate better quality, however this term is no longer applicable to many of today's better mattress sets. Find a new mattress.
Coil Springs: Wire coils used in more expensive upholstered seating pieces to give a desired resiliency and firmness to the seat and back.
Colonial: American furniture from the 1700's through the Revolutionary era. The formal styles are usually mahogany or cherry while plainer furniture was done in pine, oak, and maple. Queen Anne and Chippendale designs are often included in this category.
Colonial Revival: Reproductions of classic American styles from the 1700's, although not always accurate in detail. Revival pieces were popular from the late 1800's through the early 1900's. Also known as just "Revival".
Colonnade: A range of columns connected by a horizontal entablature or cornice at the top.
Color Scheme: Color combinations for the interiors of rooms and homes in general.
Color Transfer: The process of applying a color from one material onto another by the means of moisture or heat. The term can also refer to the accidental seepage of color from one material to another.
Color Way: A term used in interior design to describe a color combination.
Colorwashing: A decorative painting technique where a thin glaze (or water-based wash) is applied over the base coat of paint to create an effect of subtle layers of color.
COM/COL: Furniture industry term for "Customer's own material" or "Customer's own leather." Typically expressed in square yards for fabric (COM) and in square feet for leather (COL). Figure references the amount of material required for custom fabric or leather coverings.
Comb Back: A Windsor chair having an extension of the back above the arm rail that consists of five or more spindles and a curved top rail resembling a comb. Find a dining room chair.
Combing: A painting effect in which a comb (or comb like tool) is dragged across the paint or glaze to create a series of lines.
Comfort Layers: The layers of material in a mattress or upholstered seating that provide the comfortable surface feel.
Comforter: Comforters cover the mattress, but not the box spring. Since the top and bottom fabrics of a comforter are quilted together with a filling material in between, they are usually fluffier and thicker than a bedspread or coverlet. Comforters are usually used with a dust ruffle to cover the box spring. Comforters are usually too short to cover the bed pillows, therefore most people use shams. Find a comforter.
Commode: A small, low chest with doors or drawers, many traditionally styled nightstands are referred to as commodes. Find a nightstand.
Commonwealth (or Puritan): Commonwealth furniture is also known as Puritan, Cromwellian and Middle Jacobean. Commonwealth furniture was a design devoid of ornate style. This style was characterized as straight and severe. Pieces were square and rectangle. Sturdy underbracing was used on chairs. Settees had straight backs and low seats. Upholstery pieces had dull or dismal fabrics. Oak was the favored wood. Most popular during the mid to late 1600's.
Computer Desk: A desk that's specifically designed to accommodate a personal computer. Find a computer desk.
Connecticut Chest: A low chest on legs that normally contains a double set of drawers.
Console (or Console Table): A term originally applied to a bracket that supported cornices or shelves and later used to describe tables that were affixed to a wall and supported with legs at the front. Today it describes any type of table used along a wall. Find a console table.
Contemporary: A term covering many styles of furniture that developed in the latter half of the 1900's. Contemporary pieces have an updated look that's softened and rounded compared with the stark lines of modern design.
Continental: A pillow that's 26" square, which is the traditional European sized pillow.
Continuous Coil: A mattress design in which each row of coils is made using a single, continuous wire. Find a mattress set.
Contrasting Welt: Welting or piping at seams that's covered in fabric contrasting or different from the main body fabric. Used on upholstered furniture and fabric accessories such as accent pillows and drapes.
Corduroy: A cotton or rayon velvet that's woven with ridges (or cords).
Corner Block or Brace: A diagonal brace placed at the corner of a frame structure to provide strength. Commonly found on the inside corners of dressers and chests for example.
Corner Cupboard: A triangular shaped dining room china cabinet made to fit into a corner. Find a china cabinet.
Cornice: A molding that crowns or runs along the top of a curio, hutch, etc.
Cornucopia: The horn of plenty, which symbolizes peace and prosperity, used as a design motif.
Corrected Grain Leather: Leather that's buffed to remove unattractive blemishes and embossed to simulate an attractive grain pattern or to add a decorative texture. Find leather furniture.
Cottage Furniture: A style of casual furniture that's characterized by being painted and/or decorated. Cottage pieces often feature turned legs and very simple lines. The term originated during the Victorian period to refer to mass-produced simplified designs.
Couch: A term from the 17th and 18th Century used to refer to a daybed. Not used as a term for a sofa or settee until more recent times.
Counter Stool: A stool that has a seat height of about 24" to 26", opposed to a bar stool that normally has a seat height of 30". Find a counter stool.
Country Style: A casual style that gained popularity in the 1980's and remains popular today, often featuring nature and nostalgic motifs. The "appearance" of handcrafting is also important. Distressing is commonly seen.
Court Cupboard: A small cupboard that's used for storing silver, china, or other precious items.
Coverlet: A bed cover that reaches to the top of the bed and to the bottom of the box spring on three sides.
Coving: A decorative plaster or polystyrene molding used to cover the join between walls and ceiling.
Crackle Glaze (or Craquelure): A special type of glaze used to create a fine network of cracks.
Credence: An early Italian cabinet that was used for carving meat or displaying plates. It was the original forerunner of the sideboard.
Credence Table: A type of small table used for storing food before serving; generally a semi-circular table with a hinged top.
Credenza: Normally a sideboard or buffet. In office furniture, credenzas are a horizontal filing cabinet that may also feature doors or shelves for storage, often placed behind a desk.
Crest Rail (Top Rail): The top horizontal rail of an upholstered piece, which can be very detailed.
Cresting: A shaped ornamentation on the top of a structure, as in the cresting of a chair.
Crinoline Stretcher: An arched stretcher found on certain Windsor chairs.
Crocking: The loss of transfer of leather coloring or finish by abrasion.
Croft: A small filing cabinet from the 18th Century that had many small drawers and a writing top.
Cross Stretcher: An X-shaped stretcher in straight or curved lines. Found on some traditional style tables, chairs and on highboys and lowboys.
Crown Molding: Molding where the wall and ceiling meet or the uppermost molding along a piece of furniture or cabinetry.
Cupboard: A cabinet, box or closet with shelves designed to hold cups, dishes or food.
Cupid's Bow: Term used to describe the typical top rail of a Chippendale chair back, which curves up at the ends and dips slightly in the center.
Curio (Collectors Cabinet): A case piece featuring glassed in shelves and doors for displaying collectibles. Find a curio cabinet.
Curule Legs: X-shaped legs used on a portable backless folding chair.
Curved-Back Sofa: A sofa whose back arches in a smooth, even curve with large, scrolled arms. Find a sofa.
Cushion Drawer: A convex drawer below a cornice that runs the full width of a piece of furniture.
Cushioning: Materials used to provide comfort in upholstered furniture and bedding. Popular cushioning materials include polyurethane foam, polyester, cotton, latex and wool.
Cyma Curve: A distinctive 'S' shaped curve incorporated into Queen Anne furniture.
Note: Some terms in this glossary may no longer be in common use and are posted for reasons of historical interest.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W-Z
Home
|
Local Furniture Stores |
Online Shopping |
Manufacturers |
Glossary
Living Room |
Dining Room |
Bedroom |
Office |
Children's |
Home Accessories |
Patio
FurnitureQuest is not responsible for the content on any retailer or third party website. All discount and sale offers subject to change.
© FurnitureQuest.com - The Furniture Store & Home Decor Directory. All Rights Reserved.
About Us -
Privacy Policy -
Terms of Use
