Antique Furniture Glossary: G

A • B • C • D • E • F • G • I • L • M • P • R • S • T • V Terms Defined: gesso, gilded, gilding, gilt, girandole, gueridon

Gesso

A composition, often made with chalk and parchment size that is commonly applied to furniture, picture frames and mirrors as foundation upon which gilding or silvering was applied.

Examples from our gallery: Set of fine, French, Regence style, carved giltwood fauteuils (Item No. 862) Each with foliate carved, channelled frame and carved, giltwood entertrotoise (stretchers). Legs terminating in pied de sabots. Each chair applied with a paper label to the underside, CALIFORNIA PALACE FOR THE LEGION OF HONOR, 21, LINCOLN PARK, SAN FRANCISCO/1958.54/armchair, wood carved, gesso and gilt; upholstered in silk and wool petit-point embroidery/France, style of about 1710/Lent by the W.H. Crocker Estate and with a stencilled label GUERDE/doreur encadreur/45 rue de Bourgogne 45/Paris/meubles batiment a cadres dor/aes Noir met imitation d'…./eatt/aemiation et oxidisation de 10r. 19th century. Provenance: W.H. Crocker - Accessioned by the California Palace for the Legion of Honor in 1958

Gilded

Covered in gold leaf. (c.f. gilt, gilding)

Examples from our gallery: Pair of fine, Venetian, Rococo period, painted and parcel-gilded mirrors (Item No. 882) Mid-18th century. 43¼" tall by 29½" wide Fine, Venetian, Rococo style, painted and parcel-gilded coiffeuse (Item No. 873) 19th century. 60½" high by 39" wide by 18" deep Set of twelve, fine, French Restauration, painted and parcel-gilded chairs (Item No. 860) Comprising six armchairs and six side chairs, each with a scrolled, padded back. The armchairs with curved arms terminating in scrolling leafs above leaf-carved scrolling legs and back sabre legs. Circa 1825. sidechairs: 33" high by 18" wide by 21" deep - armchairs: 37" high by 22" wide by 26" deep Very fine and rare, French Louis XV period, painted and parcel gilded trumeau (Item No. 856) With original mercury glass, original giltwood surface, and original painting. Mid-18th century. 100" tall by 50" wide Very fine, George III period, chinoiserie paravent (folding screen) (Item No. 833) In black lacquer with gilt bronze trim and painted and parcel-gilded scenes. Late 18th century. French globe of large dimensions on ebonized and gilded metal stand (Item No. 818) 19th century. 37" high by 34" diameter 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. 53" wide by 35" high by 22" deep Set of eight, very fine Northern Italian, painted and parcel-gilded dining chairs (Item No. 806) Late 18th century. 20" wide by 20" deep by 18" high (at seat) 38" high (at back) Set of Twelve fine, Venetian, painted and parcel gilded, tall-back dining chairs (Item No. 787) Comprising ten side chairs and two fauteuils. Scalloped and carved on all four sides. Fourth quarter of the 19th century side chairs are 21" wide by 20" deep by 18" high (at seat) and 43" high (at back); armchairs are 28" wide by 23" deep by 19" high (at seat) and 43" high (at back) Pair of French, Jacob period, painted and parcel-gilded fauteuils (Item No. 720) One of identical pair shown. Stamped "Jacob Freres Rue Meslee." Circa 1800. Provenance: Collection of Old Versailles New York, New York. 35½" high (at back) 18" (at seat) by 22" deep by 21½" wide Set of four Consulat style chaises (Item No. 774) Crème painted and parcel gilded with Greek key motif. 19th century. 18" wide by 18" deep by 17" high (at seat) and 33" high (at back) Italian, painted and parcel-gilded six-light chandelier (Item No. 679) In solid, carved wood. Late 19th or early 20th century. 36" high by 30" diameter Louis XV style, chinoiserie secretary ("dos d'ane") (Item No. 394) Painted and gilded with black lacquer base. Late 18th or early 19th century. 29" wide by 18" deep by 38" high 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. 48" wide by 70" high Louis XV style, chinoiserie commode scriban (Item No. 439) Gilded and painted with ivory inlay. 19th century. 38" wide by 20" deep (when closed) 35" (when opened) 43½" 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. English, George III period, gilded oval mirror (Item No. 412) Late 18th century. 31" wide by 46" high

Gilding

The decoration of surfaces with gold leaf. (c.f. gilded, gilt)

Gilt

Covered in gold leaf. (c.f. gilding, gilded)

Examples from our gallery: Very fine, Northern Italian, Rococo period overmantel mirror of large dimensions (Item No. 889) In solid, carved giltwood, the pierced, scrolling frame with a shell cresting floral garlands. C-scrolls and foliate scrolls surrounding a later divided mirror plate. Mid-18th century. 66½" high by 71½" wide Very fine, Louis XV style, kingwood amaranth and gilt-bronze mounted commode (Item No. 880) 19th century. 53½" wide by 24½" deep by 36" high Fine, French, Louis XV Period Mirror (Item No. 879) In solid carved giltwood. Mid-18th century. With original giltwood surface and original mercury glass. From the region of Nimes. Fine, French, Louis XV period mirror (Item No. 878) In solid, carved giltwood with original mercury glass. From the region of Nimes, Provence. Mid-18th century. Very fine, French, Louix XV period, giltwood console table (Item No. 876) Mid-18th century. Possibly Lyon. 51½" wide by 25" deep by 31¼" high Set of four, very fine, Italian, Neoclassical period, grey-painted and giltwood boiserie panels of large dimensions (Item No. 875) The panels circa 1800, the later frames mid-19th century. Each one painted with classical figures: Minerva, Apollo, Bacchus, and Diana. The frames inscribed "SALONE BALLO." large pair: 76" high by 62¼" wide; small pair 74½" high by 62½" wide Fine, Napoleon III period, giltwood canapé of large dimensions (meuble de chateau) (Item No. 871) In solid, carved giltwood with five cushions in silk damask and two étiquettes (tags) bearing the inscription "PONTOI/ … JUILLET/1872." 19th century. 35¾" high by 138½" wide French, 18th century, Louis XV period console table (Item No. 870) In carved giltwood having a gray and white marble top. 38" wide by 19" deep by 33" high French, Provençal (Beaucaire), Louis XV period, carved giltwood console table (Item No. 869) With Breche violet, beveled marble. 18th century. 43" wide by 20" deep by 35" high 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. Set of fine, French, Regence style, carved giltwood fauteuils (Item No. 862) Each with foliate carved, channelled frame and carved, giltwood entertrotoise (stretchers). Legs terminating in pied de sabots. Each chair applied with a paper label to the underside, CALIFORNIA PALACE FOR THE LEGION OF HONOR, 21, LINCOLN PARK, SAN FRANCISCO/1958.54/armchair, wood carved, gesso and gilt; upholstered in silk and wool petit-point embroidery/France, style of about 1710/Lent by the W.H. Crocker Estate and with a stencilled label GUERDE/doreur encadreur/45 rue de Bourgogne 45/Paris/meubles batiment a cadres dor/aes Noir met imitation d'…./eatt/aemiation et oxidisation de 10r. 19th century. Provenance: W.H. Crocker - Accessioned by the California Palace for the Legion of Honor in 1958 Very fine and rare, French Louis XV period, painted and parcel gilded trumeau (Item No. 856) With original mercury glass, original giltwood surface, and original painting. Mid-18th century. 100" tall by 50" wide Italian, Neoclassical, crème painted and parcel-gilt settee (Item No. 616) Late 18th or early 19th century. Rome or Naples. 63¼" wide by 37" high (at back) by 24" deep. Fine, French, Louis XV period, giltwood chaise longue (Item No. 851) The padded backrest with serpentine top rail continuing to padded wings, the shaped rails raised on cabriole legs; the whole carved with foliate scrolls, shell motifs and seed pods. Mid-18th century. 37½" high by 33½" wide by 76" long George III period, oval, carved giltwood mirror (Item No. 845) With pierced framework carved with rose branches and husk swags amidst s and c-scrolls and surmounted by ho ho birds at the shoulders, centering a tiered scrollwork crest. Late 18th or early 19th century. 62" high by 39½" wide Italian, Renaissance period, giltwood and pastiglia cassone (Item No. 836) The arched top decorated and star-shaped motif centered by a coat-of-arms, above a rectangular body decorated in pastiglia with figures in procession, the sides with similar star-shaped motif on bracket legs. Circa 1430, with restorations. 29½" high by 71½" wide by 23¼" 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. 30¼" high by 31½" wide by 17" deep Very fine, Italian, giltwood mirror of large dimensions (Item No. 841) With original mercury glass. Mid-18th century. 98" high by 52" wide Pair of George III style gilt-wood girandoles (Item No. 560) Each cartouche-form mirror plate within a conforming leafage and floral-carved frame with rocaille and floral crest, supporting four scrolling candle arms cresting in later sockets. One of opposing pair shown. 19th century. 57" high by 33" wide Very fine, George III period, chinoiserie paravent (folding screen) (Item No. 833) In black lacquer with gilt bronze trim and painted and parcel-gilded scenes. Late 18th century. 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. 82" high by 36" wide Very fine, Chinese export, black lacquer and Parcil gilt games table (Item No. 822) Featuring chess surface in mother of pearl and ebony and recessed backgammon board in the interior. Second quarter of the 19th century. Spanish, iron-mounted, polychrome, parcel-gilt and bone-inlaid Vargueño (travelling trunk on stand) (Item No. 821) In solid, carved walnut. 17th century. The rectangular case enclosing fourteen drawers and two cupboard doors, on a later walnut stand fitted with two small drawers and with later carved embellishments. 59½" high by by 47¾" wide by 17½" deep Very fine, Spanish, Neoclassical, flame mahogany and parcel-gilt coiffeuse (Item No. 824) Circa 1820. Provenance: Collection d' Ariane Dandois. 82" high by 34¾" wide by 20¼" deep Very fine, Northern Italian, Neoclassical, painted and parcel-gilt overmantel mirror (Item No. 801) With original mercury glass. Late 18th century. 61¼" high by 56" wide Fine, French, Napoleon III period, black lacquer and gilt bronze and and incised gilt brass table a jeu (game table) (Item No. 813) Opens to reveal felt playing surface. Circa 1860. Rare, George IV period, giltwood and upholstered confidante (Item No. 803) Four seats. Circa 1825. Fine, English, George III period, chinoiserie and parcel-gilt, tall-case clock (Item No. 802) With clock dial signed "Sam Vale - Coventry." Late 18th century. Italian, painted, lacca contrafatta, and parcel-gilt secretaire bookcase (Item No. 586) Mid 18th century. 91" high by 48½" wide by 21¼" deep Venetian, Louis XV style, gilt metal and cut crystal chandelier (Item No. 789) Early 19th century. 42" high by 30" diameter Very fine French, Empire period, gilt-bronze and patinated bronze bouillote lamp (Item No. 780) With hand-chased detail and very dark green tole shade. Circa 1805. 26" high by 13" diameter 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. closed: 25¼ wide by 22" deep by 28" high - when opened, poker surface is 25¼" by 44" Rare pair of Art Nouveau period, carved, giltwood mirrors (Item No. 575) With beveled glass. Late 19th or early 20th century. 43" high by 28" wide Pair of French, Regence style, carved giltwood and caned fauteuils (Item No. 661) One of identical pair shown. 19th century. 35" high (at back) 18" high (at seat) by 24" wide by 21" deep 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, Louis XVI period tric-trac table (Item No. 718) In solid, carved mahogany with flame mahogany veneer, gilt bronze trim, and tapered, fluted legs. Backgammon surface in ebony with ivory inlay. Leather top reverses to reveal felt playing surface for cards. Circa 1780. 47" long by 27" deep by 28" high Empire Style, Patinated and gilt-bronze chandelier (Item No. 715) Circa 1900. 40" high 16" diameter 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. armchair 22" wide by 34¾" high (at back) Set of ten French, Louis XVI style, giltwood, lyre-back dining chairs (Item No. 684) Newly upholstered. 19th century. 18" wide by 18" deep by 18½" high (at the seat) and 37" high (at the back) French, Louis XV style, gilt-iron and crystal, nine-arm chandelier (Item No. 655) With amethyst and clear crystals. Electrified. 19th century. French, Green and gilt tole and cut glass, eight light chandelier (Item No. 617) Early 20th century. 42" high by 36" in diameter Viennese, Biedermeier period, giltwood, six-light chandelier (Item No. 609) Early 19th century. 35" diameter by 26" high 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. 48" wide by 70" high Regence period, carved giltwood mirror (Item No. 573) With some of the original mercury glass. Early 18th century. 34½" high by 23½" wide Pair of Louis XV style, carved, giltwood, three-arm mirror/sconces (Item No. 536) One of symmetrical pair shown. Original glass and original surface. Early 19th century. 25" high by 14" wide Florentine, Baroque, carved giltwood mirror (Item No. 420) With some original surface. Late 17th century. 22" wide by 33" high French, Louis XV period ottoman (Item No. 281) Very rare sofa in carved giltwood having the characteristic corbeille shaped back and outward curved seat. 18th century. 78" wide by 32" deep by 39½" high (at back)

Girandole

An ornate and ornamental candlestick holder, often backed with a mirror.

Examples from our gallery: Pair of George III style gilt-wood girandoles (Item No. 560) Each cartouche-form mirror plate within a conforming leafage and floral-carved frame with rocaille and floral crest, supporting four scrolling candle arms cresting in later sockets. One of opposing pair shown. 19th century. 57" high by 33" wide

Gueridon

A small, round table made to support a candlestick or candelabrum.