A basic vocabulary of some more or less technical terms we use for furniture descriptions, words pertaining to the world of classic style furniture and furnishings.
Letter A:
Flush, flush doors or drawers: When closed, the doors (and drawers) are flush with the uprights and the furniture frame, ensuring no discontinuity between the furniture body and the doors (or drawers). Another term used: recessed doors or drawers (often found in 'arte povera' furniture).
Upper Section: The upper section of a two-part furniture piece.
Poor art: An essential furnishing style, without frills or embellishments: simple doors (often flush) with un-moulded external frames, a solid plinth, eyelet hinges, drawers with knobs, and a walnut-stained finish. The term 'arte povera' is often used synonymously with classic furniture.
Letter B:
When closed, the doors (and drawers) sit with their frame against the furniture structure. The frame can be straight (as in arte povera furniture) or molded (e.g., ogee). when closed, the doors (and drawers) rest with the frame against the structure of the furniture. The frame it supports can be straight (as in Arte Povera furniture) or molded (e.g. owl's beak).
Ogee molding. tipo di modanatura, profilo di cornici e bordi, in particolare cassetti, porte e piani di credenze o tavoli.
Rosewood, a precious wood essence widely used for inlays and stringing. rose wood, a precious essence widely used to make inlays and fillets.
A chest of drawers with a drop-front. chest of drawers with flap.
Letter C:
The top element of a knockdown furniture piece. upper element of a removable piece of furniture.
A dovetail joint, an effective joining system used in manufacturing, particularly for drawers. dovetail joint, an effective joint system used in the manufacture, in particular, of drawers.
A narrow table or small table designed to be placed against a wall. narrow table or small table to place against the wall
Letter E:
A small multi-tiered bookcase, typically with open sides. small multi-storey bookcase usually with open sides, i.e. open.
Letter F:
Stringing; a thin strip of wood or other material used as a decorative line, often in inlay work. tipo di intarsio lineare inserito sovente nel piano di alcuni tavoli o nelle ante e cassetti di credenze.
Letter I:
Woodworking technique performed by incising and hollowing out the material according to a design. woodworking performed by carving and carving the material according to a design.
A decorative technique consisting of composing figures or designs with different woods or other materials (ivory, mother-of-pearl) fixed onto the underlying surface. decorative technique consisting of composing figures or designs with different woods or other materials (ivory, mother of pearl) fixed on the underlying surface.
Letter L:
The color decoration of furniture; furniture colored in various hues, with different degrees of antiquing, with or without decorative motifs. color decoration of furniture, colored furniture in various shades, different degrees of antiquing, with or without decorations.
Wood sheets 3-4 millimeters thick or more, applied to cover part or all of the furniture structure. A technique often used to create antique wood furniture. wooden sheets with a thickness of 3-4 millimeters or more applied to cover part or all of the furniture structure. Technique often used to make old wood furniture.
A panel consisting of a structural core made of solid spruce or other softwood strips, faced on both sides with plywood or fiberboard, and counter-veneered in various wood species. panel consisting of a structural part made up of strips of solid fir or other soft wood, covered on both sides with plywood or fiber panel, and counter-plated in different essences.
See - Flush-fitting, flush doors or drawers. see -Flush, flush doors or drawers.
Truncated pyramidal legs (tapered legs) with a constriction at the upper part. truncated pyramid shaped legs (stidel legs) with narrowing in the upper part.
Letter M:
A projecting, protruding profile of edges and frames. overhanging, protruding profile of edges and frames.
A Venetian term referring to a type of stringing or inlay, characterized by the alternation of light and dark wood, arranged obliquely. Venetian word to indicate a type of fillet, inlay, characterized by the alternation of light and dark wood, arranged obliquely.
Letter N:
Both are woods from the Juglandaceae family, scientifically named Juglans Regia (European Walnut) and Juglans Nigra (Black Walnut). both woods of the Juglandaceae family, scientifically called Juglans Regia and Juglans Nigra.
Letter O:
Small Hinge: A small, simple, yet robust hinge often used in 'arte povera' style furniture and Venetian 19th-century pieces.
Letter P:
PlaningOriginally, the action of a carpenter to flatten, reduce thickness, or smooth wooden planks and parts using a plane. In reference to our furniture, a hand-planed or 'scagliata' finish means creating a hand-planed, irregular, rustic effect with localised depressions, giving a highly aged appearance to wood that would otherwise be perfectly smooth.
Letter S:
Textured, hand-textured wood: See Planing.
Saber, saber legs: Simple yet elegant legs, subtly curved and tapering towards the lower extremity.