Cockbeading

A bead moulding applied to the edges of drawers.

Corbel

A projecting carved moulding at the top or bottom of cabinet furniture.

Corner Desk Chair

A chair with a central leg and a bowed top rail .

Coromandel

Type of wood from the Coromandel coast of India used for banding and inlay, popular during the Regency period.

Cornice

The projecting decorative moulding at the top of tall furniture.

Cross Banding

A veneered edge to table tops and drawer fronts, at right angles to the main veneer.

Dentils

Small rectangular blocks applied at regular intervals to the cornices of furniture.

Davenport

A compact writing desk with a sloped top above a case of drawers.

Drop-in seat

An upholstered seat frame that sits in the main framework of a chair.

Dovetails

A series of interlocking joints, used in drawers.

Dummy Drawer

A decorative false drawer, complete with handle.

Ebonized

Wood stained and polished black to simulate ebony.

End Support

A central support at the sides of a writing or sofa table.

Escutcheon

Brass plate surrounding and protecting the edges of a keyhole .

Front

The flap of a bureau or secretaire that pulls forward to provide a writing surface.

Feather or Herringbone banding

Two narrow bands of veneer laid in opposite diagonals.

Fielded panel

A raised panel with a bevelled or chamfered edge that fits into a framework.

Figuring

The natural grain of wood seen in veneers.

Flamed Veneer

A veneer cut at an angle to enhance the figuring.

Fluting

Decorative concave, parallel grooves running down the legs of tables and chairs.

Foliate carving

Carved flower and leaf motifs.

Fretwork

Fine pierced decoration often applied over solid wood and known as blind fretwork.

Frieze

The framework immediately below a table top.

Gilt-tooled decoration

Impressed gold leaf on the edges of leather desk tops.

Improved

An item that has been altered or added to at a later date to improve its style.

Kneehole Desk

A desk with a recessed central cupboard below the frieze drawer.

Loper

A pull-out arm used to support the hinged fall of a bureau.

Moulding

A shaped piece of wood applied to a piece of furniture, comprising a long strip or a small decorative motif.

Ogee

A double curve of slender S-shape.

Ovolo

A moulding comprising a quarter-segment of a sphere.

Partner's Desk

A large desk with a configuration of drawers and cupboards or all drawers to both sides which was originally for the use of 2 people.

Patina

The build-up of wax and dirt that gives old furniture a soft mellow look.

Pedestal desk

A flat desk, usually with a leathered top, that stands on two banks of drawers.

Plinth base

A solid base which with a desk goes around the pedestal beneath the drawers

Reeding

Parallel strips of convex flutes found on the legs of chairs and tables.

Runners

The strips of wood on which drawers slide.

Sabre leg

A curved chair leg in the shape of a sabre, strongly associated with the Regency period.

Spade foot

A tapering foot of square section.

Spandrel

A decorative corner bracket, usually pierced .

Splat

The central upright in a chair back; loosely applied to all members in a chair back.

Squab

The loose flat cushion on the seat of a chair .

Thumb moulding

Decorative convex moulding.

Stretchers

The horizontal bars that unite and strengthen the legs of chairs and other furniture.

Turned

A solid piece of wood modeled by turning on a lathe, i.e. chair or table leg

Uprights

The vertical sides of the back of a chair

Veneer

A thin slice of timber cut from the solid.

William IV

A transitional period (1830 to 1837) that lies between the Regency and Victorian eras. A term often used to describe furniture that incorporates features which are typical of both the earlier Regency and later Victorian styles.

Windsor chair

A type of wooden chair with a spindle and splat back.