Furniture Style Glossary: Leg

Leg

Cabriole

Curved leg in the shape of an animal’s leg. The cabriole leg increased the stability of seating pieces and reduced the need for underbracing..

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• William and Mary
• Queen Anne
• Colonial
• Georgian
• Pennsylvania Dutch
• Chippendale

Curule

X-shaped curved legs.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Robert Adam
• Sheraton
• Duncan Phyfe Adaptation

Decorated Cabriole

Cabriole leg with decorative carving, usually on the knee.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Queen Anne
• Colonial
• Georgian
• Chippendale

Elaborate Turning

Turned leg with multiple types of turnings.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• William and Mary
• Colonial
• Victorian

Restrained Cabriole

Cabriole leg with a rather straight shape.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• American Empire
• Victorian

Simple Turning

Turned leg with a few simple types of turning.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Jacobean
• Early American
• Colonial
• Pennsylvania Dutch
• Robert Adam
• Federal
• Sheraton
• Duncan Phyfe Adaptation
• American Empire
• Shaker

Splayed

Leg with a concave shape.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Sheraton
• Duncan Phyfe Adaptation
• American Empire
• Shaker
• Scandinavian Contemporary

Straight

Straight leg, vertical to chair seat.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Jacobean
• Early American
• William and Mary
• Colonial
• Pennsylvania Dutch
• Chippendale
• Robert Adam
• Hepplewhite

Tapered

Straight leg gradually decreasing in width.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Pennsylvania Dutch
• Robert Adam
• Hepplewhite
• Federal
• Sheraton
• Duncan Phyfe Adaptation
• American Empire
• Shaker
• Arts and Craft
• Art Nouveau
• Scandinavian Contemporary

Tapered Turning

Turned leg with a slender, tapered appearance.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Robert Adam
• Sheraton
• Duncan Phyfe Adaptation

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