A B C D E F G I L M P R S T V
Terms Defined:
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Baroque |
An elaborately ornamented style which was popular in Europe from approximately 1600 to 1750. In furniture, the Baroque style favored flamboyant carving, painting, and gilding. Typical motifs included acanthus, shells, and elaborate scrolls.
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See our Baroque category for examples.
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Bergere |
Large, comfortable armchair with upholstered sides and loose cushion seat, popular in France in the Louis XV period and later. In England in the 18th century, these chairs were known as “burjairs” or “barjairs”.
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Examples from our gallery:
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Pair of fine, Louis XV-style marquise bergeres (Item No. 885)
In solid, carved walnut with serpentine, floral carved crests, scrolled arms, ample seats with serpentine floral-carved rail, and cabriole legs. 19th century.
40" wide by 40" tall by 25" deep
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Bibliothèque |
From the French word for library, a bibliotheque is a piece of furniture with glass-fronted doors and several shallow shelves designed to hold books.
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Examples from our gallery:
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Biedermeier |
Style of furniture and decoration current in Austria, Germany, Sweden and Russia between 1815 and 1848, featuring clean, simple lines and detailed veneer work with little ornamentation.
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See our Biedermeier category for examples.
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Bombé |
French term for the outwardly curving shape of a piece of furniture, often a bombé chest.
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Examples from our gallery:
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Pair of very fine, Louis XV period encoignures (corner cabinets) (Item No. 888)
Having floral marquetry with butterflies in satinwood, amaranth, and tulipwood. Each with brèche d'Alep marble top above a pair of inalid bombé doors enclosing two shelves, each spuriously stamped P. GARTNIER JME and further stamped RESTAURE/par P.SPOHN, one inscribed in white chalk 147, the aprons partially-reveneered, previously with angle mounts. Circa 1755.
36¼" high by 29¾" wide by 22" deep
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Bronze d'ore |
Gilded metal, especially cast brass or bronze gilded over fire with an amalgam of gold and mercury, used for furniture mounts and ornamental objects.
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Examples from our gallery:
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Buffet á glissant |
A buffet which has a smaller, recessed compartmented, known as the tabernacle. The defining feature of a buffet á glissant is that the tabernacle has doors that slide out to open, and in to shut.
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Buffet de chasse |
A buffet table with a marble top which was typically used to prepare game. The term literally means “hunting table.”
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Examples from our gallery:
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French, Louis XVI period, Provençal buffet de chasse (Item No. 592)
In solid, carved walnut with gray marble top having fluted, chamfered corners and pierced bottom apron comprised of garlands, ribbons, and bows. Late 18th century.
66" wide by 28½" deep by 39" high
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Buffet deux corps |
A two-tiered buffet with the top cabinet being shallowing than the bottom cabinet. The doors on the top panel can have wood or glass panels.
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Examples from our gallery:
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French, Louis XV buffet deux corps (Item No. 321)
In carved walnut from Provence having two drawers above two cabinet doors, a pull-out work table or cutting board, "chapeaux de gendarme" upper cabinet doors, and original pierced hardware. Mid-18th century.
61" wide by 24" deep - bottom half is 42½" high, top half is 55" high, entire piece is 97½" high
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Bureau plat |
A flat writing table or desk, usually having several drawers.
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Examples from our gallery:
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Louis XV style, Italian bureau plat (Item No. 414)
With painted verde gris finish and embossed leather writing surface, exaggerated cabriole legs ending in pied de sabots. Late 18th or early 19th century.
65" wide by 29" deep by 30" high
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Burl |
Wood from an abnormal or diseased portion of a tree root or trunk (often caused by injury to the bark). Burl wood is highly prized for furniture design because the grain exhibits spectacular mottled or speckled patterns that are used to create the beautiful veneers found in formal and provincial furniture. Although rare, burls are most often found in walnut and elm.
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See our Burl category for examples.
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