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 six 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. One of six matching chairs shown. 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: Fine, French, Louis XV style chinoiserie sauteuse sans traverse (two drawer commode) (Item No. 924) In black lacquer, gilt-bronze mounted, painted and parcel-gilded; in the bombé form with veined marble top. 19th century. Fine, English, George I style, chinoiserie, fall-front secretary (Item No. 915) In black lacquer, painted and parcel gilded. Late 19th or early 20th century. Fine, Italian, Neoclassical period, painted and parcel-gilded, diminutive console table (Item No. 913) With Carrera marble top. Circa 1780. 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 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) Late 19th or early 20th 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) 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

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, Italian Rococo period console table (Item No. 933) In solid, elaborately carved giltwood with Serravezza marble top, pierced skirt centered by a rocaille foliate ornament, complex volute floral and foliate-carved cabriole legs, and arched foliate stretcher. Mid-18th century. Provenance: Formerly part of the furnishings at The Audubon House, Key West, FL; previously on exhibition at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Miami, FL. Pair of very fine, Venetian, Baroque period, carved giltwood and silvered wall consoles (Item No. 929) With tripod bases. Circa 1740. Set of ten fine, Italian, Rococco, tall-back dining chairs (Item No. 928) In solid, carved giltwood. Four mid-18th century, six early 20th century. 43" tall (at back) by 22" wide Fine, French, Louis XV style chinoiserie sauteuse sans traverse (two drawer commode) (Item No. 924) In black lacquer, gilt-bronze mounted, painted and parcel-gilded; in the bombé form with veined marble top. 19th century. Pair of Napoleon III period (Neoclassical style), gilt bronze and porcelain three arm sconces (Item No. 923) With porcelain medallion depicting a satyr and a woman holding a goat flanking an athenienne (a small, decorative, tripod stand characteristic of the French Neoclassical and Empire periods). Late 19th century. 22" tall by 10¼" wide by 7½ deep Very fine pair of Neoclassical period fauteuils of large dimension (Item No. 922) In solid, carved giltwood. Circa 1780. Stamped "P H Poire JME" (Philippe Poirié, who was named Maître Ébéniste in 1765). 40" high by 27½" wide by 22½" deep Fine, French, Louis XV-XVI Transition period mirror (Item No. 918) In solid, carved giltwood with original mercury glass, back boards, and largely original surface. Third quarter of the 18th century. 38" high by 25" wide French, Regence period, carved, giltwood mirror (Item No. 510) Of Italian inspiration, circa 1710, with original glass and original surface. 81" high by 40" wide 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) Very Fine, French, Louis XV style bed of large dimension (Item No. 910) In tulupwood and kingwood with gilt bronze mounts. Late 19th century. Stamped "MILLET A. PARIS" (Jean Millet, french, active 1853-1918) Headboard 69¾" high by 69" wide Fine, French, Napoleon III period, black lacquer, gilt bronze, and incised gilt brass table a jeu (game table) (Item No. 813) Opens to reveal original felt playing surface. Circa 1860. Provenance: estate of Mexican film star Maria Felix. 34" wide by 16½ deep (closed)/33" deep (open) by 30" high Pair of very fine and rare Regence period chenets (Item No. 909) In gilt bronze with sphinxes. Circa 1720. Pair of Italian, Neoclassical, white-painted and parcel-gilt demi-lune console tables (Item No. 895) Circa 1785. 35¾" high by 49¾" wide by 25½" deep 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 Italian, Neoclassical, parcel gilt and painted settee (Item No. 905) The rectangular slightly scrolled upholstered back with leaf carved rounded arms on tapering columnar supports over a leaf and arrow carved seat raised on square tapering fluted legs. Late 18th century 36" high (at back) by 77" wide by 23" deep Set of six 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. One of six matching chairs shown. 19th century. Provenance: W.H. Crocker - Accessioned by the California Palace for the Legion of Honor in 1958 Very fine, French Provençal, Louis XV period mirror in solid, carved giltwood (Item No. 898) In the Rocaille form, vigorously carved with grapes, leaves, vines, the whole surmounted by a crest in the form of a "corbeille a fleurs" (basket of flowers). With later plate glass. 18th century. 52" high by 34" wide Very fine and rare Regence period chinoiserie commode (Item No. 901) With reverse arbalette façade, slightly galbe sides, original bronze d'ore pulls and escutcheon plates, and original interior locks. Original black laquer and parcel gilt surface is largely intact. Circa 1710. 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 Very fine, French, Neo-classical style, bronze d'ore and patinated bronze, six-light chandelier (Item No. 893) With sunburst canape, bronze-linked chain, patinated bronze cherubim playing horns, and centered by a gilt bronze torchere. Recently electrified to American standard. 19th century. Very fine, English Regency period, rosewood and brass-inlaid center table (Item No. 892) With original tilt-top mechanism, giltwood acanthus leaf and faux rosewood grain stem, and unusual square plinth (base) resting upon four bronze winged claw feet. Attributed to George Smith, circa 1805-1810. 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, Provençal (Beaucaire), Louis XV period, carved giltwood console table (Item No. 869) With Breche violet, beveled marble. 18th century. 43" wide by 23" 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. 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, 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 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) 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 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.

Gueridon

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