French Accents Antique Furniture - Glossary of Terms

Glossary of Antique Terms - S

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Terms Defined: serpentine

Furniture form characterized by a undulating, central, convex (protruding) surface with concave ends. Reverse serpentine forms exhibit a concave center portion and convex edges. (See also arbalette.)

Examples from our gallery:

Edwardian, painted satinwood small sideboard (Item No. 846)
The top of serpentine outline painted with a musical trophy and floral garlands above a center drawer fitted for cutlery, flanked by a cupboard door and a deep drawer all painted with garlands and trophies, raised on square tapered legs ending in spade feet painted with bell flower trails. First quarter of the 20th century.

Dimensions: 36" high by 53½" 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

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