Furniture & Interior Design Glossary Terms - G

Gallery Rail: A small slender railing, usually brass, that borders a sideboard or table.

Gargoyle: A grotesque carved figure or head. Were originally used to carry rainwater from the gutters.

Garland: An architectural ornamentation representing foliage, flowers or fruits plaited and tied together with ribbons.

Garnetting: A production process in which short cotton fibers are combed into a specific orientation and formed into layers.

Geometric Panels: Decorative panels forming or consisting of regular lines, curves and angles.

Georgian: Elegant design of the 1700's, which is heavier and more ornate than Queen Anne. Georgian features include elaborately carved cabriole legs, ball and claw feet, pierced back splats and ornate carving.

Gesso: A painted or gilded bas-relief plaster decoration.

Gilding: A coating with a thin layer of gold or gold-like substance.

Gimp: An ornamental flat braid or round cord used as a trimming.

Gingham: A fabric with a checked pattern that's created by weaving together two different colored yarns.

Girondole: Term refers to a round, convex mirror used as a wall ornament.

Glastonbury Chair: An X-framed Gothic seat with a sloping paneled back. Arms had a drooping curve in which a priest's vestments rested.

Glaze: A coloring technique used in the finishing process of furniture to highlight the grain characteristics of wood or to give a high sheen to leather.

Glyph: Term refers to a short, vertical groove or channel. A common feature in Doric architecture.

Gobelin: A French tapestry and the name of the Parisian factory that produced it.

Goblet Pleat: A pinch-pleated drapery heading filled out with batting or stiff paper.

Goose-Neck Arm: A chair with curved wooden arms resembling a goose's neck.

Gothic: Pieces from this period (late 1100's to early 1500's) were large with straight lines, and very heavy in weight and scale. Production often took place in monasteries and pieces were usually decorated with shapes of religious figures and detailed carving. The Gothic era introduced the Trestle table, stools, and cupboards. A famous piece of this era is the box chair. The box chair had paneled sides and back with a storage space under the seat. The dominant woods used in producing this style were primarily pine and oak.

Gothic Revival: Style influenced by Gothic and medieval influences popular in the mid-1800s, this style is characterized by lines flowing up to a pointed arch or other architectural features.

Gouache: An opaque water-based paint in which the pigments are bound with glue.

Grain: The direction of the fibers in wood. Flat grain wood is sawed perpendicular to the growth rings. Edge grain wood has been sawed parallel to the growth rings.

Grand Rapids Style: Style inspired by several furniture factories in Grand Rapid Michigan at the turn of the 20th Century, which is still popular today. Pieces of this design are inexpensive and usually made of oak. The most popular item of this style is the oak pedestal table stained in a light finish.

Grasscloth: A natural fiber wallpaper.

Greek Style: Dating from the 9th Century B.C. with Egyptian roots. Characterized by use of bronze animal legs, gilding, encrusted jewels and stones. Used native woods such as olive, yew and cedar. Features include sweeping curves on legs and backs, and centers on couches, chairs, stools, tables, chests and boxes. Usually not highly decorated.

Griffin: A chimerical beast employed in decoration during the early Georgian period.

Grille: A metal lattice work used on many 18th Century bookcases.

Grommet: An eyelet in a piece of fabric reinforced with two pieces of affixed metal.

Grosgrain: A strong, close-woven corded fabric usually of silk or rayon.

Grout: Thin mortar used for filling spaces such as tile, bricks, etc.

Gueridon: A small rounded topped table or stand, elaborately carved, usually with three legs. Primarily used for holding candles or small articles.

Guilloche: An ornamentation formed by two or more intertwining bands or interlacing figure "8's" frequently enclosing rosettes or other details.

Guimpe: A round or flat braided trim used on upholstered furniture.

Gusset: A narrow panel that's shaped or gathered to give a sense of fullness, such as the side panel of a box shaped cushion for example.