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Furniture Style Glossary: Ornamentation

Ornamentation

Banding

Thin strips of veneer used as a decorative border or edging.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Jacobean
• Hepplewhite
• Federal
• Sheraton

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Carving

Decoration by cutting or chipping shapes or design.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Jacobean
• Early American
• William and Mary
• Queen Anne
• Colonial
• Georgian
• Pennsylvania Dutch
• Chippendale
• Robert Adam
• Hepplewhite
• Federal
• Sheraton
• Duncan Phyfe Adaptation
• American Empire
• Victorian
• Art Noveau

Exposed Joinery

Joints that lock wood together.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Shaker
• Arts and Craft

Finial

Decorative turning affixed to the tops of cabinets and highboys and chair and bed posts.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Early American
• Queen Anne
• Colonial
• Chippendale
• Shaker

Fluting

Carved or molded vertical channels.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Robert Adam
• Hepplewhite
• Federal
• Sheraton
• Duncan Phyfe Adaptation
• American Empire

Fretwork

Decorative carving or openwork with interlacing lines.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Chippendale
• Victorian

Gilding

Gold leaf.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• William and Mary
• Colonial
• Robert Adam
• Federal
• Duncan Phyfe Adaptation
• American Empire
• Victorian

Inlay

Decorative veneer used in edging or banding.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• William and Mary
• Queen Anne
• Colonial
• Robert Adam
• Hepplewhite
• Federal
• Sheraton
• Duncan Phyfe Adaptation
• Victorian
• Art Noveau

Marquetry

Combinations of veneer used to create pictures or patterns.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• William and Mary
• Queen Anne
• Colonial
• Hepplewhite
• Federal
• Art Noveau

None

No ornamentation.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Scandinavian Contemporary

Oriental Lacquerwork

Heavy lacquering.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• William and Mary
• Queen Anne
• Georgian
• Chippendale

Paneling

Raised, recessed, and framed panel.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Jacobean
• Early American
• Pennsylvania Dutch

Parquetry

Combinations of veneer used to create geometric patterns.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• William and Mary

Reeding

Parallel lines of rounded molding.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Federal
• Sheraton
• American Empire

Spindle

Turned pieces split vertically, often affixed to the front facade of chests.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Early American
• Pennsylvania Dutch
• Victorian

Stenciling

Decorative painting of pictures.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• Colonial
• Pennsylvania Dutch
• Federal
• Sheraton
• American Empire

Supporting Column

Decorative column often fluted affixed to the front corners of case pieces, particularly bureaus.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• American Empire

Veneer

Decorative thin sliced wood, often used in contrasting woods or colors.

Associated with the following furniture styles:

• William and Mary
• Queen Anne
• Colonial
• Robert Adam
• Hepplewhite
• Federal
• Sheraton
• Duncan Phyfe Adaptation
• Art Noveau