FRENCH TERMS 1 - FAMILIARIZE (copy)

Acajou

Mahogany

Ajouré

A design in ceramics, metal, wood, or other material made by piercing holes

Applique

An applied motif, a wall bracket or sconce

Armoire

Clothes wardrobe (Gothic and later)

Banquette

Bench

Bergère

All upholstered armchair

Bibelot

Small object for personal use or decoration

Bibliothèque

Bookcase

Bobèche

Candle socket

Bombé

A swelling curve applied to the front of a piece of furniture

Bonheur-du-jour

Small desk with cabinet top

Bonnetière

Hat cabinet

Bouillotte

Small table with gallery edge; also a foot-warmer (Louis XVI)

Boiserie

Carved woodwork

Bronze-doré

Gilded bronze

Buffet

Sideboard or cupboard (Gothic and later)

Bureau

Desk

Bureau-à-cylindre

Roll-top desk

Bureau-à-pente

Folding slant-lid desk

Cabinet-secrétaire

Desk with cabinet above

Cabinet-vitrine

Cabinet with glass doors

Cabriolet

Chair with a concave back

Cachepot

Pot of china or porcelain used as a container

Canapé

Sofa

Canapé-à-corbeille

Kidney-shaped sofa

Caquetoire / Caqueteuse

Conversation chair (Early Renaissance)

Chaise

Side chair

Chaise-à-capucine

Low slipper chair

Chaise-brisée

Chaise-longue in two parts (with footrest)

Chaise-longue

"Long chair," for reclining

Chandelier

Hanging light fixture

Chêne

Oak

Chenets

Andirons

Chevet

Bedside

Chiffonier

Chest of drawers

Chinoiserie

Chinese-style decorative motif

Ciseleur

Craftsman who chisels metal (a chiseller)

Coffre

Chest

Coiffeuse

Dressing table

Confortable

First name used for fully upholstered chair

Commode

Low chest of drawers

Compotier

Container for stewed fruit, jellies, jams, etc.

Confidante

Three seats attached as a single unit

Fauteuil

Upholstered armchair with open arms

Garde-robe

Wardrobe

Garniture

Any decorative motif

Girandole

Wall sconce for candles, often mirrored

Guéridon

Small ornamental stand or pedestal

Huche

Hutch or chest

Jardinière

Plant container

Laqué

Lacquered

Lambrequin

Valance board for draperies

Lavabo

Table and washstand

Lit

Bed

Lit-à-la-française

Bed placed sideways against wall, with canopy

Lit-à-la-Polonaise

Bed with pointed crown canopy

Lit-à-travers

Bed placed sideways against wall, without canopy

Lit-canapé

Sofa bed

Lit-d'ange

Bed with small canopy

Lit-duchesse

Bed with large canopy

Lustre

Crystal table light or wall sconce

Manchette

Padded arm cushion

Marquise

Small sofa

Ménagère

Dresser with open shelves for crockery

Méridienne

Sofa with one arm higher than the other (Empire)

Miroir

Mirror

Noyer

Walnut

Objet d'art

Small art object

Ormolu

Gilded bronze

Console

Wall table

Console-desserte

Serving table

Crédence

Sideboard

Crémaillère

Swinging crane (hearth)

Demilune

Semicircular

Desserte

Serving table or sideboard

Dos-à-dos

Chair with two attached seats arranged back-to-back

Duchesse

Chaise-longue in one piece

Duchesse-brisée

Chaise-longue with separate footpiece

Écran

Screen

Écran-à-cheval

Frame with sliding panel used as fire screen

Encoignure

Corner cabinet or table

Encrier

Inkwell

Entresol

A mezzanine floor

Escabelle

Chair supported on trestles (Early Renaissance)

Étagère

Hanging or standing open shelves

Étui

Container or box

Eventail

Fan

Faïence

Tin-glazed earthenware

Table-jardinière

Table with pierced top for plant containers

Tabouret

Stool

Tambour

Drum or drum-shaped furniture

Terre-cuite

Terra cotta

Tôle

Painted sheet metal or tin

Tric-trac table

Backgammon table

Tricoteuse

Small sewing table

Panier

Basket or scrap basket

Panetière

Bread box

Petite-commode

Small table with three drawers

Placage

Veneering

Poudreuse

Powder or toilet table