Sentence:  The half-dozen pieces […] were painted white and carved with festoons of flowers, birds and cupids. [...]  The bed was the most extravagant piece.  Its graceful cane halftester rose high towards the cornice and was so festooned in carved white wood that the effect was positively <WSD>insecure</WSD>, as if the great couch were trimmed with icing sugar. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Not comfortable or confident in oneself or in certain situations.