French Accents Antique Furniture - Glossary of Terms

Glossary of Antique Terms - C

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Terms Defined: cabriole, candelabrum, classical, console, corbeille a fleurs, Corinthian columns

Cabriole

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Sinuous, double-curved form used in legs (and feet). The upper portion curving outward and the lower portion curving inward in a gentle S shape. The cabriole leg is especially characteristic of the Louis XV style.

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.

Dimensions: 40" high by 61" wide by 25½" deep

Fine, French, Regence period, carved giltwood console (Item No. 843)
With veined pink marble serpentine-fronted top above a shell and foliate frieze on crosshatched and diagonal reeded ground, raised on foliate-carved double scroll cabriole legs terminating in "pied de sabots." Circa 1725.

Dimensions: 30¼" high by 31½" wide by 17" deep

French, 18th century, carved sauteuse (two-drawer Provençal commode) (Item No. 225)
In walnut, with Louis XV cabriole legs and carved acanthus leaf and coquille (seashell) motif.

Dimensions: 50½" wide by 25" deep 33½" high

Italian, Louis XV period, inlaid secretary (Item No. 781)
In walnut and fruitwood with slant-front stand in two parts, the upper part with arched molded cornice above a pair of cupboard doors; the slant front enclosing a fitted interior above a frieze drawer, raised on cabriole legs; inlaid to form foliate scrolls and flowerheads. From Piedmont. Mid-18th century.

Dimensions: 87" tall by 52½" wide by 26" deep

Parisian, Louis XV period table a jeu (Item No. 757)
In kingwood, ebony, and ivory veneers with cabriole legs terminating in gilt-bronze sabot feet. Opens to reveal a green felt poker surface. Mid-18th century.

Dimensions: closed: 25¼ wide by 22" deep by 28" high - when opened, poker surface is 25¼" by 44"

Matched pair of Arlesian kitchen boxes (Item No. 768)
At left a "boite a farine" (flour box) and at right a "boite a sel" (salt box). In solid, carved walnut with cabriole legs. Late 19th or early 20th 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.

Dimensions: 65" wide by 29" deep by 30" high

George III style, carved mahogany, tilt-top table (Item No. 572)
With circular pie-crust top, shell-carved cabriole legs terminating in carved paw feet. 19th century.

Dimensions: 32" tall by 27½" diameter

Candelabrum

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A branched candlestick usually cast in bronze, white metal or silver.

Classical

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Having to do with Greek or Roman and their derivatives.

Examples from our gallery:

Italian, Neoclassical period fall-front secretary (Item No. 837)
With marquetry in walnut and fruitwood. Circa 1840.

Dimensions: 57½" high by 35½" wide by 16¼" deep

Pair of very fine, Italian, Neoclassical period, giltwood mirrors (Item No. 831)
With original mercury glass and original giltwood surface. One of identical pair shown. Late 18th or early 19th century.

Provenance: from the collection of Mexican film star Maria Felix La Donna

Dimensions: 82" high by 36" wide

Very fine, Parisian, Neoclassical period, drop-leaf banquet table (Item No. 828)
In solid Cuban mahogany. Six tapered, fluted legs ending in original casters. With original extension mechanism and four later, matching finish, 20" wide, mahogany leaves. Circa 1780.

Dimensions: 30" high by 68" diameter (148" long, fully extended)

Very fine, Northern Italian, Neoclassical period, marquetry-inlaid commode (Item No. 825)
In walnut. Circa 1785.

Very fine, Spanish, Neoclassical, flame mahogany and parcel-gilt coiffeuse (Item No. 824)
Circa 1820.

Provenance: Collection d' Ariane Dandois

Dimensions: 82” high by 34¾” wide by 20&frac1/4;” deep

Very fine, Northern Italian, Neoclassical, painted and parcel-gilt overmantel mirror (Item No. 801)
With original mercury glass. Late 18th century.

Dimensions: 61¼" high by 56" wide

Very fine, Italian, Neoclassical period library table (Item No. 794)
In solid, carved walnut, with six legs. Late 18th century.

Dimensions: 104½" long by 37" wide by 31½" high

Pair of fine, Italian Majolica, bottle-neck vases (Item No. 795)
With satyr masks, each hand-painted with scenes of neoclassical figures. Mid-19th century.

Dimensions: 14" high by 13" wide by 8" deep

Late 16th century, Florentine 'credenza' (Item No. 230)
In carved walnut, having the characteristic classical elements including ionic capitals and acanthus leaf gadrooning.

Dimensions: 51½" wide by 42" high by 16" deep

Pair of Italian, Neoclassical, painted corner cabinets (Item No. 564)
With bow front tops above panel inset doors, raised on bracket feet, the whole painted with scrolls and flowering leafage on a pale green ground. Late 18th or early 19th century. (One of identical pair shown)

Dimensions: 41" high by 31" wide by 21" deep 41" high by 31" wide by 21" deep

French, Louis XVI style (Neo-Classical), bronze d'ore, lantern (Item No. 710)
With Baccarat crystal. Late 19th century.

Dimensions: 41" high

Set of ten Italian, neo-classical, cream painted and parcel gilt dining chairs (Item No. 709)
Circa 1780, two side chairs of a later date.

Dimensions: armchair 22" wide by 34¾" high (at back)

French, Louis XV-XVI Transition style commode (Item No. 391)
With Neo-classical marquetry in numerous exotic woods. Late 18th or early 19th century.

Dimensions: 49" wide by 23" deep by 33" high

French, Neoclassical style, bronze d'ore and patinated bronze, six-arm chandelier (Item No. 681)
With patinated bronze cherubs playing trumpets. Mid-19th century.

Dimensions: 45" high by 24" diameter

French, Neoclassical style, flame mahogany bureau plat (Item No. 680)
19th century.

Italian, Neoclassical style, painted and parcel-gilded bed of large dimensions (Item No. 677)
In solid, carved wood. Early 20th century.

Dimensions: 74" wide by 80" long by 60" high (headboard) by 35" high (footboard) (will accommodate a king size mattress)

Rare, French, Neoclassical, extension dining table (Item No. 598)
In solid Cuban mahogany, a wood that has been completely deforested. With tapered, fluted legs terminating in casters. Extends with original mechanism to twenty-three feet, seating for thirty people. Late 18th century from Ile de France (region of Paris).

Dimensions: 29" high by 53" round when drop leaves are up, extending up to 23' (276").

French, Neoclassical, period armoire de chasse (Item No. 596)
A very unusual form, most likely from a hunting lodge in Southwestern France. In solid, carved cherry with additional storage cabinets on either side (see photo number three), which were used to store hunting gear. Late 18th century.

Dimensions: 93" high by 72" wide by 23" deep

French, Provençal, Neoclassical period, oval dining table (Item No. 588)
In solid walnut with "pied Jacob" and drop leaves. Can extend to accommodate five leaves (seating for 16). Early 19th century.

Dimensions: without leaves 54" wide by 58" long by 30" high. With all five leaves, extends to 158" long.

Italian, Neoclassical (Retour d'Egypt), carved and painted giltwood mirror (Item No. 280)
With gilded sphinxes and foliage motif. Late 18th century or early 19th century. (Shown here above Item 561, Late George III painted and parcel gilt decorated settee.)

Dimensions: 48" wide by 70" high

Pair of Venetian, Neoclassical Gondola lanterns (Item No. 565)
Mounted on poles. With largely original polychrome surface. Late 18th century.

Dimensions: Lanterns without poles are 36" high by 12" wide. Poles are 58" high.

Pair of Italian, painted corner cabinets (Item No. 285)
Two 19th century, Italian, Neo-classical corner cabinets with polychrome finish.

Dimensions: 51" high by 29" wide by 17" deep (at center)

Console

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A table that stands against the wall and is usually supported by two, bracket-shaped legs.

Examples from our gallery:

Pair of very fine and rare French, Louix XIV style, wrought-iron consoles (Item No. 840)
Each with a shaped, breche d'alep marble top above a pierced break-fronted frieze with c-scrolls, quatrefoils, and diamonds and three pierced aprons raised on scrolled supports headed with cherubim. Circa 1900-1920. (one shown)

Dimensions: 78" wide by 37" high by 21¾" deep

Italian, Rococco period, walnut console (Item No. 838)
With wooden top painted to resemble marble and legs terminating in pied de sabots. From Naples. Mid-18th century.

Dimensions: 60" wide by 35" high by 26½" deep

Fine pair of Continental, Louis XV style, red painted and parcel gilded console tables (Item No. 812)
With white-veined, liver-colored marble tops. One of identical pair shown.

Dimensions: 53" wide by 35" high by 22" deep

Italian, Louis XV style, wrought iron console (Item No. 771)
With marble top. 19th century.

Dimensions: 41½" wide by 16" deep by 38½" high

French, Louis XV period, carved giltwood console table (Item No. 683)
With marble top. Mid-18th century.

Dimensions: 61" wide by 28" deep by 33½" high

Louis XVI period, brass mounted, walnut and kingwood console desserte (Item No. 612)
Late 18th century. Twice stamped "J. Stoeckle" (Joseph Stoeckle maître 1775) ebeniste for Louis XVIII (Le Compte de Provence), brother of Louis XVI.

Dimensions: 34" high by 53" wide by 18" deep

French, Rocaille period, console table (Item No. 670)
In solid, carved oak with original "rouge de langueduc" marble top. Mid-18th century.

Dimensions: 34" wide by 19" deep by 33" high

Northern Italian, Rococo period, silver leaf console table (Item No. 587)
With ochre color marble top having a green border. Mid-18th century.

Dimensions: 53" wide by 27" deep by 37" high

French, 18th century, Louis XV period console table (Item No. 563)
In carved giltwood having a gray and white marble top.

Dimensions: 38" wide by 19" deep by 33" high

Pair of Louis XV period, carved giltwood corner consoles (Item No. 558)
With original giltwood surface and marble top. Identically carved, one of slightly larger dimension. Mid-18th century.

French, Provençal (Beaucaire), Louis XV period, carved giltwood console table (Item No. 530)
With Breche violet, beveled marble. 18th century.

Dimensions: 43" wide by 20" deep by 35" high

Italian, Baroque demi-lune console table (Item No. 465)
From Tuscany in solid walnut. Early 17th century (restored).

Dimensions: 70" wide by 30" deep by 38" high

Italian, Directoire period console table (Item No. 416)
With marble top. Painted and parcel gilded with the original gold and silver leaf. From the last five years of the 18th century.

Italian, Charles X period console (Item No. 14)
Walnut veneer, white Carrera marble top. Circa 1825.

Dimensions: 55½" wide by 26½" deep by 39½" high

Corbeille a fleurs

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Literally "flower basket." Characteristic of Louis XV style decoration.

Examples from our gallery:

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).

Corinthian columns

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The most decorative of the classical Greek columns, Corinthian columns feature indented sides topped with flowering, leaf-like structures.

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