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Furniture Style Glossary: Motif

Motif

Acanthus Leaf

Leaf.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Jacobean
• William and Mary
• Queen Anne
• Colonial
• Georgian
• Chippendale
• Federal
• Sheraton
• Duncan Phyfe Adaptation
• American Empire

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Acorns

Oak nut. Turned form often used as finials on chair and bed posts and leg turnings.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Jacobean

Arrows

Line with pointed tip.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Duncan Phyfe Adaptation

Carved Head

Front view of a human head.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Jacobean

Circle

Figure in which all sides are equally distant from the center.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Early American
• Sheraton
• Duncan Phyfe Adaptation

Conch Shell

Spiral shaped shell.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Federal

Cornucopia

Horn with fruit or flowers.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• American Empire

Diamond

A figure with four equal side and two obtuse angles.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Jacobean
• Early American

Drapery Swag

Loosely folded cloth.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Robert Adam
• Hepplewhite
• Sheraton
• Duncan Phyfe Adaptation

Eagle

National emblem.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Georgian
• Federal
• American Empire

Floral

Flowers.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• William and Mary
• Colonial
• Pennsylvania Dutch
• Art Noveau

Foliage

Leaves or vines.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Victorian
• Art Noveau

Geometric

Figures made up of squares, circles and triangles.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Jacobean

Honeysuckle

Plant with small colorful flowers.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Robert Adam
• Hepplewhite

Lattice

Openwork resembling crossed strips.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Chippendale
• Sheraton

Lion Head

Front view of a lion’s head.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Georgian

Lyre

Small harp-like musical instrument.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Robert Adam
• Sheraton
• Duncan Phyfe Adaptation

Mask

Representation of a face.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Georgian

Medallion

Oval or circular figure resembling a medal.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Robert Adam

None

No motif.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Shaker
• Arts and Craft
• Scandinavian Contemporary

Oriental Patterns

Oriental figures, usually painted or lacquered.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• William and Mary
• Colonial
• Georgian
• Chippendale

Palmetto

Fan palm.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Hepplewhite

Pine Tree

Native tree.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Early American

Pineapple

Oval shaped tropical fruit.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Federal
• American Empire

Plume

Feather-like figure.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Duncan Phyfe Adaptation

Ram Head

Profile of a ram's head.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Robert Adam

Ribbon

Ribbon-like strips.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Chippendale
• Hepplewhite

Rose

Rose or flower.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Early American

Scroll

Form that resembles a roll of parchment paper.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Early American
• William and Mary
• Georgian
• Chippendale
• American Empire
• Victorian

Seaweed

Marine plant.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• William and Mary
• Colonial

Shell

Fan shaped shell.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• William and Mary
• Queen Anne
• Colonial
• Georgian
• Chippendale
• Federal
• Sheraton

Star

Figure having five or six symmetrically projecting points.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Federal
• Sheraton
• American Empire

Sunflower

Daisy-like flower.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Early American
• Pennsylvania Dutch

Tulip

Cup-shaped flower.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Early American
• Pennsylvania Dutch
• Art Noveau

Urn

Vase-shaped figure.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Chippendale
• Robert Adam
• Hepplewhite
• Sheraton
• American Empire

Wheat Ear or Husk

Cereal grass.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Robert Adam
• Hepplewhite