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Glossary
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AntiqueHOME.com
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Aldergrove Shop Guide
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| Age Cracks | A non-existent term used to describe cracks in porcelain, usually are damage but may be fire cracks (when the item was fired in the furnace). |
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| C and S scrolls | A popular design element of rococo style. Resembles interlocked C and S letters. Used from the early 18th century on. |
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| Cabaret service | Originally a cabaret meant a tea table. But now a term used to describe a porcelain tea service on a porcelain tray. Sevres where well known for this type of service. |
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| Cabinet | Case furniture used to secure valuables. Can be atop a secretaire and thus a secretaire cabinet. |
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| Cabinet maker | A builder of fine case furniture. |
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| Cabriole leg | A gentley curved leg, either on a chair, table or desk where the top "knee" starts an outward curve then returns to slightly behind the start point and the swings back and terminates either with a slight vertical section contacting the floor. Commonly with slight carving but also with heavily carved "knees" and foot. Originated in China but adapted in Europe in the 17th century and adapted by 18th century cabinet makers in their furniture designs. |
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| Caddy | Also a tea-caddy, -jar, and incorrectly as tea-poys. Intended for the safe storage of the then valuable tea. Commonly in a casket form. |
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| Callot, Jacques | (French 1593-1635) An prolific etcher from Nancy (now French) in Lorraine. Studied in Italy from 1608 to 1621. |
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| Cameo | A term used to describe a broach usually with a portrait or scene. Done by removing the white upper surface away from the darker background. |
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| Cameo glass | Glass with different coloured layer that are removed by a fine grinding wheel to make a colourful design. |
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| Campaign furniture | Furniture meant to be easily moved during a military campaign. Most examples are from the early to mid 19th century and utilize brass flush mount pulls and corners to protect the case from damage. |
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| Candle | A wick covered with wax and tallow that slowly melts and is drawn up the wick and burnt by the flame as fuel. One of the oldest forms of transportable lighting. |
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| Candle box | A wooden box used to store candles. |
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| Candle snuffers | A scissor like tool with a chamber that stores the burning wick after it has been cut from the top of a burning candle. |
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| Candlestick | Used to hold a candle upright while it burns. Made in pairs, although earlier versions were single. Usually brass but also common in silver, pewter, wood, porcelain and pottery. |
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| Canelabrum | Also candelabra. A branched candlestick with multiple arms. Usually used in pairs. |
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| Canterbury | A stand with multiple divisions used to hold magazines or books. Used to be a term for a music stool. |
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| Capo-di-monte | A factory in Naples founded in 1743 and produced soft paste porcelain service ware and figures. Many hard paste porcelain wares have been attributed incorrectly to Capo-di-Monte. Wares made after 1759 were made in Spain and are different in design. |
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| Carafe | A wide lipped bottle with no stopper intended for either water or wine. Popular in the 18th century until circa 1800 |
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| Carlton House desk | A desk originally built for the Prince of Wales while living at Carlton House in London. A desk with pigeon holes, arranged in a U shape, above the writing suface. |
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| Carpet | A traditional floor covering usually woven using a loom and having a weft and warp. The knots used to attach shorter pieces of wool or hair to create the pile. Originated in the Orient and brought back to Europe during the Crusades and with the Moorish invasion of Spain. |
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| Carver | An English term used to describe a dining chair that has arms, usually positiona at either end of the table, occupied by the person carving. A term used in America to refer to an arm chair made entirely of turned sections of wood. |
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| Caryatid | In Greece a draped figure of a woman supporting a entablature or a motif on pottery, porcelain etc. in neo-classical times. |
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| Caryatids | A figure of a woman used, instead of a pillar or column, to support a pediment on a building or decoration of furniture. Atlantes are the male version of the same. |
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| Cased glass | Tranparent glass flashed (covered with a thin layer) with coloured glass which is then ground away in spots to create a two coloured decoration. Bohemia glass is a modern example of this glass ware. |
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| Cassapanca | A cassone with the addition of a back and arms making it a bench. |
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| Cassolettes | Metal or porcelain vases with a pierced cover to burn pastil. Sometimes the lid reverses to a candle holder. |
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| Cassone | A coffer or chest, usually large and made in pairs, and often intended as a marriage chest. The addition of arms and a back made these into a cassapanca (a bench on which to sit). |
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| Casters | Small silver "shakers" with removable tops to dispense sugar and pepper. First made in England in the late 17th century. |
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| Casters on furniture | Swiveled wheels mounted on the bottom of the legs of a piece of furniture. Usually heavy case furniture. Introduced in England in the early 18th century. |
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| Caucasian rugs | Rugs made in the area of southern Russia between the Caspian and Black Seas. |
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| Cauliflower ware | Tureens or teapots made by Josiah Wedgwod in the 1760's. The lid and base making up a head of cauliflower. |
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| Cedar | A wood used in chests and storage furniture due to its bug repellancy and aroma. Popular during the reign of Charles II. |
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| Celadon | A glaze of an a unique shade of green. Orginated in China and usually vases and bowls. |
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| Celery vases | A glass vase with a low foot intended for the storage of celery. Popular in the early 19th century. |
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| Cellaret | A drawer or piece of furniture deep enough to store wine bottles. ( a small cellar). |
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| Cellini, Benevenuto | (Italian 1500-1571) Considered one of the greatest metal workers of the Renaissance. |
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| Centaur | A mythical beast with the body of a horse and the upper part that of a human. |
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| Ceramics | Material made of fired clay. |
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| Certosina | An Italian term used to describe decoration of ivory or bone. Influence from the Near East. |
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| Chair | Originally a x-framed stool with arms and a back. One of the oldest forms of furniture. |
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| Chair table | A table that has the top hinged to reveal a chair base, with the top now acting as the chair back. A 17th century invention and today called a monk's seat. Popular in small or single rooms. |
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| Chalkware | American mantel ormaments of plaster of Paris and imitating more expensive porcelain or pottery figures. |
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| Chambers, Sir William | (English 1726-1796) Architect to King George III and designed both buildings and furniture. Published "Designs for Chinese Buildings, Furniture, &c" in 1757. |
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| Chandelier | A multi-armed light fixture that hangs from the ceiling. The chandelier usually has a stem onto which there are attached several branches with candelholders on the end, although most have now been electrified with the wire usually attached on the outside of the arms). |
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| Charles X | King of France between 1824 and 1830. |
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| Chasing | Used in metal work to refer to the raising of ormantation from the front of a piece, rather than the back which is repousee. |
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| Chelsea | A city in west London that was the home of the Chelsea Porcelain Factory and founded around 1743. Its early pieces were of very fine quality and rivaled the best European factories of the time. |
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| Chenet | French version of andiron. Used to support wood in a fireplace. |
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| Cherry Wood | A wood used in rare pieces of all kinds of furniture. The reddish-brown is most often the French wild cherry, the American black cherry being darker. |
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| Chessmen | Although orginating in the east, it first arrived in Europe in the 10th century. Finer pieces are very collectable. Pieces can be made of ivory, bone, boxwood and ebonized wood. |
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| Chest | A large box, sometimes refered incorrectly as a coffer. Usually made of oak or elm but also made of cedar or mahogany. |
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| Chest of drawers | Originating as a chest with a drawer until it became all drawers thus the name. Developed in the late 17th century. Also called a commode. |
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| Chest on chest | Also called a tallboy. A chest of drawers atop another chest of drawers, usually standing over 5 feet tall. |
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| Cheval glass | A swinging mirror on a stand. Popular from the late 18th century on. The mechanism that allows the miiror to tilt is called a horse. The French name for horse is a cheval. |
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| Chimera | A mythical beast that takes the form lion either as a winged lion, a goat headed lion or a lion with an additional goats head. |
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| Chinese Chippendale | A term used to describe furniture made in the Chinese taste and borrowing from Chippendale's "Director". |
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| Chinese export porcealin | Porcelain made in China and exported to Europe. Also called 'Nanking porcelain' and 'East India Company porcelain'. Commonly blue and white glaze but also 'Famille rose' and 'Famille verte' and other colourful decorations were used. |
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| Chinese rugs and carpets | Rugs made in the north-west provinces of China made from the 17th century on. Pekin or Peking carpets are the finest and usually have a blue ground. |
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| Ching Dynasty | Came after the Ming period in 1644 and ended in 1912. Thi period saw most of the Chinese export being made along with the perfection of colour decoration with Famille rose and Famille verte. |
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| Chinoiserie | French term used to descibe decoration done in the chinese manner. |
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| Chintz | Cotton cloth with a printed pattern and glazed. |
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| Chip carving | A carved decoration used during the Gothic period and unti the 17th century. Done by chisel and mallet |
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| Chippendale Irish | Furniture made at the same time as Chippendale and made in Ireland using from English design. |
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| Chippendale style | Furniture made using or inspired by Chippendale's designs in "Gentleman and Cabinet-makers' Director" 1754, 1755 and 1762. |
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| Chippendale, Thomas | Pre-eminant furniture designer of the last half of tte 18th century as he was the first one to publish his designs with "Gentleman and Cabinet-makers' Director" 1754, 1755 and 1762. His designs borrowed from Gothic, rococo, and Chinese designs. |
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| Chiselling | The removal of imperfections and extra material from metal castings, usually bronze, by a metalworking chisel and hammer. |
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| Chute | A French term for a narrow panel with releif decoration either in cast bronze or wood. |
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| Citronwood | A wood resembling satinwood and used in dark woods like mahogany. |
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| Classical art | Usually refered to the designs and art of the Greek and Roman period. Neo-classic art is the resurgance of classical art in the late 18th century. |
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| Claw and Ball foot | A type of carved leg popular in England from the early 18th century. Used in American furniture in the late 18th century. |
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| Clepsydra | An Egyptian water-clock which used the regular flow of water to regulate time. |
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| Clobbering | The later decoration of earlier silver ware. Also additional enamel decoration to Chinese blue-and-white porcelain. |
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| Clock lamps | An oil lamp that burned lamp oil at a determined rate and had markings on the glass oil container indicating the time. |
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| Clocks wood movements | Clocks with the movement made of wood. Popular in German cuckoo clocks. Not a very accurate clock. Used when there was a shortage of metal to make the movement from. |
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| Clocks, astronomical | Clocks that record astronolocal information such as the phases of the moon to the position of planets of the Zodiac. Also called calendar clocks. |
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| Clocks, calendar | Clocks that record astronolocal information such as the phases of the moon to the position of planets of the Zodiac. Also called astronomical clocks. |
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| Clodion, Claude Michel | (French 1738-1814) Sculptor who worked at Sevres and Niderviller and did erotic terracottas. Much copied in the late 19th century with most bronzes bearing his name being from this period. |
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| Clothes press | A large piece of case furniture that case a cupboard atop drawers. Used to store clothes it usually had sliding trays and shelves. |
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| Cluster column legs | A Gothic style leg on a table having several columns grouped to form a larger column with a single base and capital. Revived by Thomas Chippendale and his contemporaries. |
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| Coade | Using an artificial stone this firm created affordable architectural ornaments for use in and on buildings. Had a large export for these items especially to America. The name is often incised on the piece. |
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| Coalport | Coalport porcelain was produced from 1796 onward. |
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| Coaster | Usually having a wooden base, with a silver or plated gallery, they were intended to help slide a bottle across an uncovered table. To avoid scratching they usually also had a felt covered bottom. Popular from the mid 18th century onward. Commonly used today as a way of avoiding glass rings on unprotected surfaces. |
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| Cobb, John | (English ? -1778) Cabinet maker for George III. Items attributed to Cobb are rare. |
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| Cock fighting chair | see reading chair |
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| Cock metal | An inferior casting metal of copper and lead. |
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| Cockatrice | A mythical beast with a spear tiped tail, bird legs and a cock's head. Used more in Heraldic rather than decorative designs. |
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| Coffee ware | Similar to tea services but intended for coffee. The coffee pot was either silver or porcelain and had an oblong baluster shaped body with spout coming from the bottom, although early pieces had a lip on the top similar to a jug. Coffee cups were also similar to their tea partners although late some came as coffee cans having an cylindrical body and having a handle only if intended for the european market. |
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| Coffer | Sometimes called a chest and has come to mean a portable chest. |
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| Coin glasses | The insertion of a coin in the molten glass between the stem and the bowl. Popular from the early 18th century onward. |
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| Cold painting | The application of oil paint to enamel or glaze. As a result usually not very durable and most often distressed. Likely an early form of decorating otherwise plain wares. |
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| Collage | Popular from the 17th century onward it is the application of various small segments or pictures to form an larger unit. Extremely popular in the early 19th century. |
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| Colonail furniture | Made from the 17th century on this term describes furniture made in the colonies in the style of home. (ie. English colonial in English colonies, Spanish colonial etc.) Usually cruder and simpler than their more sophisticated brothers. Some pieces can be very valuable especially later examples in Amerca when the craftsmen rivalled those of England. |
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| Commodes | A French term adopted into English to refer to a piece of low case furniture that is fitted either with drawers or a cupboard. French pieces usually having ornate gilding, veneer decoration and a marble top. English commodes from the 18th century are very plainer but usually more valuable. |
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| Composition | Also called 'compo' this mixture of resin, size and whiting is used for casting and resembles gesso when plastic. Adam Brothers were the first to use this mixture ansd since used in American architects in the Federal period. It could be applied to a panel or surface after hardening in a mold. |
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| Console | Synonymous with the English word 'bracket' this French word is used to describe a small shelf or support for a clock, vase or urn etc. Also used for certain tables SEE CONSOLE TABLES |
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| Console tables | Used to refer to a table that is commonly half supported by the front legs and by the wall, as it has no back legs. Usually used in a hall or space with a mirror above. Traditionally these tables have a very drastic curve on the legs and are heavily carved and gilded. Synonymous with the English word 'bracket'. ALSO SEE CONSOLE |
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| Cookworthy, William | (English 1705-1780) The first English manufacturer of true porcelain. Strated in Plymouth in 1768 and likely learned the 'secret' of making porcelain from Duche. |
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| Copenhagen Porcelain Factory, Royal Copenhagen | Founded in 1771, it was taken over by the king and then received it present name, Royal Copenhagen, or den Kongelige Danske Porcelaen Fabrik. The 'Flora Danica' attern, originally made for Catherine the Great of Russia using botanical specimens. |
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| Copenhagen, Kastrup Faience | This factory in Kastrup, south of Copenhagen in fact, was founded in 1747 and served the court until 1777. Usually with a red or blue toned glaze. |
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| Coperta | An Italian word for the transparent lead glaze covering tin-enamel maiolica (majolica) glaze |
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| Copper | One of the first metals worked by man (along with gold). A soft malleble yet strong metal that can be hammered but more easily cast as an alloy as Bronze. Usually used to form vessels. Alloyed with several metals to form modern coins, and "German silver" or "Nickel-silver". Thus when electoplated with silver it becomes EPNS (Electro Plate Nickel Silver). |
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| Copper wares | Kettles, bedwarmers, coal-scuttles and saucepans along with other utilitarian housewares. Since copper is easily malleable it lends itself well to these wares. Edges were folded over, earlier pieces were "Dove-tailed", and then brazed to seal the vessel. Handles were usually riveted. Also refers to measuring vessels and beer-mullers etc. |
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| Coquilla | A nut from the Central South American eastern seaboard that, after being carved, resembles boxwood. Used for snuff boxes etc from the 16th century. 19th century pieces are not as fine. |
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| Coquillage | A French term for the representation of shells in decoration of furniture, porcelain or silver. The shell motif was especially used in rococo ornamentation though used before and after this period. |
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| Corner cupboard | A three side cupboard that fits into the corner of a room. Probably was originally built-in but became a separate furnishing in the early 18th century as a two part, glazed door cupboard. More refined pieces followed. Built throughout Europe and England. |
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| Cornucopia | The horn of plenty usulayy depicted laying on its side with fruits and vegestables and flowers spilling from it. A popular motif used in art and decoration from the Renaissance period onwards. Also made from pottery and porcelain in the 18th century for use as a flower vase (wallpocket). |
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| Coromadel Screens | 17th and early 18th century colourful incised Chinese lacquer folding screens that were originally transshipped on the Indian Coromadel Coast. Usually about 8ft high and higher and up to 12 panels/leaves wide. Decoration was commonly on village and life scenes. |
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| Cotte, Robert de | French Architect and designer (1656-1735), introduced the chimney-piece mirror to France. |
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| Cotton | White fiber encasing the seed of the cotton plant. Can be spun and woven into cloth. First made in England around 1760 and the USA around the end of the 18th century. Popular for clothing. |
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| Country Chippendale | A term used to describe furniture made in the country, usually of domestic woods (Oak, ash and elm) but based on the Chippendale style. |
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| Court Cupboard | An early 17th century open shelved stand, usually two tiered and used to display items. Rare but many reproductions. |
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| Cow Creamer | An earthenware or Delft vessel for cream. Based on the silver original design, the cow head has a hole from which the cream will pour when tipped. A hole in the back allows filling and the tail is a handle. Early versions are very popular, and can be valuable. |
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| Coypel, Antoine | French painter (1661-1722), of mythological scenes which where popular after the turn of the 16th century (1700). His half brother Noel Nicholas (1690-1734) also painted these scenes. |
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| Crace, Frederick | An English decorator (1779-1859) who used the Chinese style decoration in his work. Were importers of Chinese decorations of all sorts. Worked on the Royal Pavilion. |
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| Crayfish salt | A salt dish in the form of a shell on rocks encrusted with shells and crayfish. Like cow creamers these where based on a silver original, this one made by the French silversmith Aurele Meissonnier. The Chelsea Factory made salt dishes in this form after circa 1745. |
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| Creamware | A white-burning clay popularized in the early 18th century by potters in Staffordshire for salt-glazed wares. Also manufactured in Leeds and Liverpool. Wedgewood developed a slightly yellow version. Also called "Queen's ware" from 1765. First made in France in 1760. |
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| Credence or Credenza | A Buffet these are French and Italian terms for a piece of Renaissance furniture intended for the diningroom and used as a side table for food, or the display of plates. |
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| Cressent, Charles | A French sculptor and designer (1685-1768), he made bronzes and influenced 18th century French furniture design. |
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| Cresting | The decoration surmounting a piece of furniture ie: the top rail of a chair, mirror, clock hood, etc., usually carving. |
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| Cricket table | A three legged round topped table. Started in the 17th century and made into the late 19th century. As it stands staedy no matter the ground, they were popularly used out side, like at a cricket game, and thus likely received the name. |
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| Crinoline figure | Meissen figures and groups by JJ Kandler and JF Eberleinfrom circa 1737. Possibly a 19th century term used for the chrinoline skirts that were used in the 19th century. Very popular aand forged in the 19th century. |
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| Criselling | Fine cracks caused by the degeneration of old glass. |
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| Cromwellian | The English period of the Commonwealth between 1649-1660. |
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| Cromwellian Chair | A term too describe a Spanish design chair with a slung leather seat held by large headed tacks. Sometimes a x-framed chair. Of similar design. |
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| Cross-banding | Veneer in narrow, cross grained, perpendicular to the length of the band ie: if the banding arounf a panel were 1 inch wide and 30 inches long the grain of the cross-banding would be 1" long. |
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| Crystal glass | Used to refer to rock-crystal. English high lead glass was first introduced circa 1780. Since 1833 it has come to refer to leadless glass made very clear by manganese oxide. |
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| Crytallo Ceramie | The embedding of ceramics in glass. |
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| Cullet | Old broken glass used in new glass batches to promote fusion. |
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| Cupboard | A cabinet with doors. Originally likely a "board" on which cups were kept and in the 16th century saw the addition of doors. |
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| Cut Card | Introduced from France in the mid 17th century, it is piercework originally done by pierced plates cut and soldered to a piece of silverware, now done by a fret saw. |
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| Cut Glass | Facets cut into glass by grinding. Popular in Bohemia from the early 17th century onward. Not to be be mistaken with pressed glass. |
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| Cyffle, Paul-Louis | Belgian porcelain designer (1724-1806) of figures biscuit earthenware in Luneville (terre de Lorraine) widely copied as far away as Staffordshire. |
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| Cylinder | A circular enclosure, with longditudinal slants, for writing desks, also called Tambour. |
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