Antique Furniture Glossary: B

A • B • C • D • E • F • G • I • L • M • P • R • S • T • V Terms Defined: Baroque, bergere, bibliothèque, Biedermeier, bombé, bronze d'ore, buffet á glissant, buffet de chasse, buffet deux corps, bureau plat, burl

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.

See our Baroque category for examples.

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”.

Examples from our gallery: 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 Pair of fine, French, Empire period, gilt-bronze mounted bergeres (Item No. 863) In solid, carved mahogany with winged lion head armrests. Attributed to Jacob Freres. Early 19th century. Pair of French, Provincial, Louis XV style bergeres (Item No. 782) In solid, carved beechwood. Early 19th century. 35" wide by 30" deep by 17" high (at seat) and 37" high (at back)

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.

Examples from our gallery: Louis XV period, Provençal bibliothèque (Item No. 642) In solid, carved walnut. Mid-18th century. 92" high by 48" wide by 22" deep

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.

See our Biedermeier category for examples.

Bombé

French term for the outwardly curving shape of a piece of furniture, often a bombé chest.

Examples from our gallery: 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

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.

Examples from our gallery: French, Louis XV style, bronze d'ore and cut glass, twelve-light chandelier (Item No. 503) In the Rocaille style. Late 19th or early 20th century. Electrified to American standard. 38" diameter by 37" high Important, French, Empire period, bronze d'ore, tole, and crystal chandelier (Lustre Argand) (Item No. 739) With crystal de Montcenis (predecessor to Baccarat). With original oil-burning mechanism invented by Swiss inventor François-Pierre-Ami Argand. Early 19th century. Provenance: Property of a French Nobleman, Le Compte de Amxxx 45" high by 28" diameter French, Louis XVI style (Neo-Classical), bronze d'ore, lantern (Item No. 710) With Baccarat crystal. Late 19th century. 41" high 13" diameter French, Charles X style, bronze d'ore chandelier (Item No. 453) With porcelain medallions. Circa 1850. 32" high by 24" diameter French, Louis XIV style, bronze d'ore, six-arm chandelier (Item No. 676) Late 19th century. French Restauration style, bronze d'ore and patinated bronze, twenty-two light chandelier (Item No. 659) Late 19th century. 60" high by 44" in diameter French, Louis XVI style, bronze d'ore lantern (Item No. 499) With garland and urn motif characteristic of the Louis XVI style. Electrified. 19th century. 30" high by 21" diameter French, Art Nouveau, bronze d'ore chandelier (Item No. 404) With frosted glass iris globes. Late 19th century. 45" high by 25" diameter Pair of French, Louis XV style chenets (Item No. 114) In bronze d'ore. French, Napoleon III ink stand (Item No. 103) Bronze d'ore and marble. Circa late 19th century.

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.

Buffet de chasse

A buffet table with a marble top which was typically used to prepare game. The term literally means “hunting table.”

Examples from our gallery: Fine, French, Louis XV period buffet de chasse (dit "meuble de port Bordelaise") (Item No. 848) In solid, carved mahogany, with rouge royale marble top above molded paneled doors with reeded center stile, interior with a belt of drawers, molded chamfered stiles, scalloped volute apron on cabriole legs ending in scrolled toes. Late 18th century. 40" high by 61" wide by 25½" deep Regence period buffet de chasse (Item No. 604) In solid, carved walnut with marble top. Early 18th century. 28" deep by 36" high by 82" wide Louis XV period, Provençal buffet de chasse (Item No. 486) In solid, carved walnut with marble top. Mid-18th century. 53" across by 25" deep by 39" high 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

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.

Examples from our gallery: Louis XV period buffet deux corps from Lorraine (Item No. 539) Consisting of two matched enfilades, one placed on top of the other. In solid walnut. Late-18th century. French, Louis XV period buffet deux corps (Item No. 492) In solid oak with chapeau de gendarme cornice above "corbeille a fleurs" carved motif. 18th century from Normandy (Paye de Caux). Louis XV style buffet deux corps (Item No. 407) In solid cherry. Late 18th or early 19th century. 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

Bureau plat

A flat writing table or desk, usually having several drawers.

Examples from our gallery: Italian, Regence period, black lacquer and gilt bronze bureau plat (Item No. 751) With gold-embossed, leather blotter, giltwood border, and legs terminating in bronze sabots (hoof feet). Early 18th century. French, Neoclassical style, flame mahogany bureau plat (Item No. 680) 19th century. 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

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.

See our Burl category for examples.