FRENCH TERMS 2 - FAMILIARIZE (copy)

Armoire

wardrobe.

Aubusson

factory known for tapestries of pastoral scenes, & later rugs.

Baldachin

canopy.

Bas-relief

decoration which is slightly raised from the surface or background.

Beauvais

originally a tapestry factory. During the reign of Louis XVI they produced seat covers & carpets.

Bergère

upholstered armchair with wood frame and closed arms.

Boiserie

elaborately carved wood paneling.

Bombe

commode with a bulging front.

Bouillotte

small lamp with narrow shade, arrow detail above the shade and tray base.

Bureau plat

large writing table.

Burl

tree growth with interesting design and color pattern used for veneering.

Cabriole

legs which curve out from the seat & inward toward the foot in an S shape.

Canapé

sofa.

Cartouche

Roman inspired decoration used in Renaissance, Baroque & Rococo.

Chaise-longue

a reclining chair with a seat that extends for leg support.

Chinoiserie

lacquer furniture with oriental designs. Louis XIV favored black lacquer and established a workshop at his Gobelins factory. Vernis martin (1730) gave a brilliant surface. Most common now is black lacquer with a raised gilded decoration.

Credence

small table or sideboard.

Èbénistes

makers of veneered case furniture.

Eglomisé

glass panel painted gold, white or blue on reverse used in doors.

Escritoire

writing desk.

Espagnolette

bronze mount in female bust design (Régence & Louis XV).

Estampille

Stamp of cabinet maker.

Étagère

freestanding shelf unit open on all sides used for display.

Fauteuil

armchair with open arms.

Faux finish

finish made to look like another, e.g., marble or wood.

Gilt-bronze

bronze which has been gilded.

Gilt wood

gold finished wood.

Guéridon

candle stand with tripod base.

Gobelins

Louis XIV's furniture & tapestry workshops. Production was for the king.

Inlay

contrasting wood, stone, metal, shell or ivory set into another material for a decorative effect.

Jardinière

plant container.

Lambrequin

deeply scalloped drapery or that effect carved into furniture.

Lit canapé

sofa bed.

Lyon silk

silk woven at Lyon (finest silks of the 18th c).

Magot

grotesque oriental figure on porcelain.

Marquetry

inlay design glued into furniture or floors using a variety of woods (Boulle marquetry uses tortoiseshell & metal).

Mascaron

head of animal, man or woman placed on the corner of apron.

Ormolu

embellishment for furniture made from a copper & zinc alloy which looks like gold.

Period style

Entire room design referencing one historical time and place.

Poudreuse

small dressing table.

Ratchet

a sofa with movable arms that can be dropped for sleeping.

Repoussé

raised design on metal made by hammering the back side.

Sabot

metal fitting to protect leg bottom.

Savonnerie

carpets produced in workshops established by Henry IV. Early designs were flowers on a dark ground. Louis XIV introduced designs by Le Brun. Also screens and covers for chairs and benches.

Sconce

light which is fixed on the wall.

Semainier

tall chest for the bedroom with 7 drawers.

Sèvres

porcelain made at the Sèvres factory starting in 1756 when it was moved from Vincennes. It was sold to Louis XV in 1759 and remains state property.

Shagreen

skin of dogfish, pale green, blue or yellow, used to cover furniture.

Singerie

design with a monkey motif.

Tabouret

foot stool.

Toile

Toiles de Jouy is now a generic term for fabric with monochromatic prints of pastoral and allegorical scenes.

Tole

lacquered tin.

Torchère

a tall lamp which casts light toward the ceiling used especially with art deco style.

Trompe l'oeil

"to fool the eye," a 2 dimensional painting of real objects having a 3 dimensional effect.

Trumeau

decorative treatment used over mirrors, windows, doors or mantels. Used often in Louis XV & Louis XVI periods.

Vermeil

gilded metal.

Vernis Martin

French lacquer from the 18th c perfected by the Martin brothers. They were given a Privilège by Louis XV.

X-frame stools

has legs in an X shape.