| Word | Definition |
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| Act of Parliament Clocks
| A clock with a round case for the dial and a cased in trunk to house the weights and pendulum. First appeared circa 1750. These clocks were thought to have been named for an act of Parliament in 1797 but since they existed before and after the act it is simply a name that has stuck. Usually relates to clocks in public areas and ones mounted in Inns.
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| Adam, Robert
| (English 1728 - 1792) A neo-classical designer of furniture and architect who travelled to Italy and Yugoslavia. Architect to King George III in 1762 aand for 25 years after worked with his brother James. Published Works in Architecture in 1773.
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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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| Allegory
| An object or scene that is associated with a certain event or time of year. (ie. Grapes are allegorical of autumn for that is when they are harvested.) Used also in mythology to symbolize a god, (ie. Grapes symbolize Bacchus etc)
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| Andiron
| Wrought-iron supports to hold wood in a fireplace. Also known as chenets in France. Later became decorative items when burning coal became prevelant.
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| Animaliers, Les
| A school of French animal sculptors from the early 19th century. Most noted are Barye, Fratin, Moigniez, Mene, and Fremiet. Bronzes by the Animaliers ussually bear an incised mark.
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| Antique
| Traditionally an antique meant an item produces before 1840 and made by hand. Customs officials in most countires have deamed items over 100 years old to be antique and therefore duty free. It has recently come to mean any item of special value or of historical significance. To purists however the 100 year rule is still used.
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| Applied relief
| Decoration applied onto as opposed to integral to a piece. Usually refers to pottery or porcelain but can also apply to furniture, where the decorative elements are carved seperately and then glued or applied to an otherwise flat panel. Gives the panel relief.
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| Arabesque
| (Islamic art) Intersecting lines, of curve and angles with stylized motifs of flowers and fuit. Found in Moorish, Near Eastern and Hispano-Moreseque art. (Renaissance art) ormantation influenced Islamic art or pottery. Not to mistaken for grotesque decoration.
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| Arcade
| A series of arches.
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| Architectural furniture
| Furniture employing architectural design elements in its form. Chippendael and others borrowed from the Gothic style. Also means furniture designs by architects such as Adams and Kent.
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| Armoire
| French cupbaord similar to a wardrobe. Usually has two doors usually paneled but often glazed.
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| Art Nouveau
| A romantic furniture and design style borrowing heavily from Gothic style, and its revivals, in being curvilinear. Seldom utilizes straight lines, and can be asymetrical. Started with the designs of William Morris in England and was therefore origianlly called "le style anglais" and later "le style moderne" in France. Influenced and devolped by Toulose-Lautrec, Emil Galle, and Rene Lalique. An organic flowing style with gentle and well balance curves and edges.
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| Attribution
| An opinion of an objects age, origin and authorship. Seldom is an attribution without inherent doubt and therefore is noted as such. If a piece of furniture is attributed to, lets say, Chippendale it is usually referred to as "attributed to Chippendale", if it is signed it is refered to as "by Chippendale", and if it is made in the Chippendale manner it is a "Chippendale style" piece.
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| Auction
| A method of selling by which an item is put up "on the auction block" and interested parties "bid" for the item in increasing money amounts until the highest bidder is finally left unchallenged and thus becomes the buyer. The item seldom comes with a guarantee to its age, origin or authorship and thus auctions are "buyer beware".
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| Automata
| Items utilizing a clock work mechanism to imitate motion. Noted in the 3rd century but popluarized with the automated birds in a cage and has now come to mean toys with a clockwork mechanism including japanese wind-up toys and cars. Many copies of these popular toys have now been produced.
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| Baccarat
| Decorative glass works. Originated with the Sainte-Anne factory at Baccarat (Lorraine) and now includes the Vareche factory in Belgium and Trelon (Nord). Known for all manner of glass ware including glasses, paper weights and opaline.
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| Bacchus
| Roman/Greek god of the feast.
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| Bachelor chest
| A modern term used to describe an 18th century chest of drawers of small proportions and a fold-over table top.
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| Bahut
| Traditionally and smaller curved top travelling chest holding the travelling essentials. Later used to refer to any domed chest and finally any chest made in the medieval style.
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| Ball foot
| A style of foot where the bottom of a leg is spherical. Used primarily in english furniture from the late 17th and early 18th century.
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| Balloon back
| A popular mid 19th century chair back style where the back rail is curved to resemble a balloon. Derived by Hepplewhite from France.
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| Baluster
| A bulbous design form where the stem bulges out on the middle and returns to its original diameter. Usually turned or round in form.
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| Banjo clock and barometer
| A later term used to refer to clocks and barometers whose case resembles an inverted banjo.
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| Barley twist
| Also refered to as Barley-sugar twist. A decorative turning of a spiral nature. Borrows from the baroque style of columns.
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