Antique Furniture Glossary Antique Furniture Glossary Ajourï¿½ Ajourï¿½ : Pierced, used to describe the surface of an ornament or element. Literally "to let the light pass through." (feminine: ajourï¿½e ) ( see three examples ) Ajourï¿½e : Pierced, used to describe the surface of an ornament or element. Literally "to let the light pass through." (masculine: ajourï¿½ ) ( see two examples ) Andirons: A pair of iron bars, usually decorated at the front end by a vertical member, placed at each side of the hearth and upon which the burning logs were supported. Sometimes referred to as "fire-dogs." Armoire : A clothes cupboard. ( see twelve examples ) Art Nouveau : A period and/or style of decoration which first appeared in England in the 1880ï¿½s and spread throughout Europe, particularly Belgium, France and Germany, in the early 1890s. It survived for 20 years, reflecting a return to nature and to the values of good workmanship.

The characteristics of Art Nouveau were drawn from nature and featured plants and flowers in sinuous curves and convolutions. ( see three examples ) Bergere Bergere : Large, comfortable armchair with upholstered sides and loose cushion seat, popular in France in the Louis XV period and later. In England in the 18th century, these chairs were known as ï¿½burjairsï¿½ or ï¿½barjairsï¿½. ( see two examples ) Bibliothï¿½que : From the French word for library, a bibliotheque is a piece of furniture with glass-fronted doors and several shallow shelves designed to hold books. ( see an example ) Biedermeier Biedermeier : Style of furniture and decoration current in Austria, Germany, Sweden and Russia between 1815 and 1848, featuring clean, simple lines and detailed veneer work with little ornamentation. ( see three examples ) Bombï¿½ : French term for the outwardly curving shape of a piece of furniture, often a bombï¿½ chest.

( see two examples ) Bronze d'ore : Gilded metal, especially cast brass or bronze gilded over fire with an amalgam of gold and mercury, used for furniture mounts and ornamental objects. ( see seventeen examples ) Buffet ï¿½ glissant Buffet ï¿½ glissant : A buffet which has a smaller, recessed compartmented, known as the tabernacle. The defining feature of a buffet ï¿½ glissant is that the tabernacle has doors that slide out to open, and in to shut. ( see an example ) Buffet de chasse : A buffet table with a marble top which was typically used to prepare game. The term literally means ï¿½hunting table.ï¿½ ( see five examples ) Buffet deux corps : A two-tiered buffet with the top cabinet being shallowing than the bottom cabinet. The doors on the top panel can have wood or glass panels. ( see four examples ) Burl Burl : Wood from an abnormal or diseased portion of a tree root or trunk (often caused by injury to the bark).

Burl wood is highly prized for furniture design because the grain exhibits spectacular mottled or speckled patterns that are used to create the beautiful veneers found in formal and provincial furniture. Although rare, burls are most often found in walnut and elm. ( see five examples ) Chaise longue Chaise longue : An upholstered couch in the shape of a chair which is long enough to support the legs. ( see three examples ) Chinoiserie : European furniture employing Chinese style decorations and ornamentation which was popular in the late 17th and 18th centuries. Elaborately painted laquer is a common feature of chinoiserie furniture. ( see nine examples ) Classical : Having to do with Greek or Roman and their derivatives. ( see thirty-six examples ) Coiffeuse Coiffeuse : A small table topped with a mirror intended as a make-up and hairdressing table. (c.f., poudreuse ) ( see two examples ) Commode : A low chest of drawers, usually with short legs, intended to be set against a wall. ( see twenty-one examples ) Console : A table that stands against the wall and is usually supported by two, bracket-shaped legs.

( see twenty-eight examples ) Corbeille a fleurs : Literally "flower basket." Characteristic of Louis XV style decoration. ( see three examples ) Corinthian columns : The most decorative of the classical Greek columns, Corinthian columns feature indented sides topped with flowering, leaf-like structures. ( see an example ) Glossary of Terms Used by Ashley HomeStore A Acanthus leaf Used in classic Greek and Roman decoration, this popular 18th century motif is favored by Chippendale. Carvings of this Asian-native plant appear on cabriole legs and moldings. Accent colors Contrast colors used to spice up room schemes A.F.F. Abbreviation for Above Finished Floor. This is typically used on construction plans to note installation heights or objects. Accent lighting Decorative lighting used to draw attention to chosen objects and create mood and highlights. i.e., track lighting, chandeliers, and sconces. ADA Guidelines A set of requirements applied to the design and construction of all buildings to ensure individuals with disabilities have full access to the building and its facilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Adaptations Newly made furniture pieces that capture the flavor of the original but are not authentic.

Ambient Lighting Main overhead lighting in a space providing a diffused layer of uniform illumination Antiquing The process of making wood or fabric look old and used. This can be done through a finish, artificial weathering, or distressing. Applique French for "applied." Ornaments such as carvings, turnings, lozenges, etc., which are tacked or glued to a surface rather than cut from the solid wood. Apron Boards that are placed at right angles to the underside of a tabletop or seat of a chair, extending between the tops of legs. On case goods furniture, it is the perpendicular face below the lowest drawer between bracket feet. Arabesque A kind of scroll pattern in which leaves, flowers, fruit and geometric forms are intertwined Armoire French term for a wardrobe frequently used to describe a French-style wardrobe. Art Deco Style of architecture and furnishings popular in the 1920's and 1930's; characteristics include streamlined, geometric motifs expressed in materials such as glass, plastic and chrome.

Art Nouveau Forerunner of Art Deco; style of decoration between 1890 and 1910 characterized by flowing lines, sinuous curves and forms derived from nature. B A small low chest of drawers which first appeared in the 18th century. Back Splat A section of flat, occasionally pierced wood in the center of the back of a chair Back orders Items on a purchase order with insufficient inventory to satisfy demand. Balance A state of equilibrium; can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. Arrangement of objects around an imaginary central point to achieve a pleasing result. Ball and claw A turned food of spherical form with a carved bird's claw clutching the ball. Inspired by ancient Chinese figures of a dragon claw holding a jewel Balloon back A chair with a circular back resembling a balloon; popularized in Victorian times. Banquette A long bench-like seat, often upholstered and generally built into or along a wall. Bas relief A sculpture or carving whose design projects a little from the surface. Blanket Chest A low storage chest with a hinged lid and often a lower drawer, serving also as a bench. Beading Decorative detail resembling a row of flattened beads.

Bentwood chair A chair popularized in Paris café culture made from wood bent using a steaming process. Bergère An upholstered French armchair with outwardly rolling arms and sections of its wooden frame exposed. Bleaching The process of chemically treating wood to provide a lighter, more uniform color. Bolster A long, often cylindrical, cushion or pillow for a bed, sofa, etc. Bombe (Pronounced Bombay) A low, usually heavily decorated chest of drawers with outwardly bulging front and sides. Bonheur Du Jour A delicate 18th century French ladies writing desk having a small glazed cabinet on top. Bonnet top Also called a Hooded or Dome top. A full dome or curved, covered top section. Bookcase Headboard A headboard for a bed that has space to store books, radios, clocks, and other small items. Sometimes called a storage headboard. Book Match A method of veneer matching where pairs of adjacent slices of veneer, as they are cut from the log, are opened up like the pages of a book, producing a mirror image of the grain pattern. Bow front Outwardly bowing front of an item of wooden furniture.

Box Match A veneering pattern similar to diamond match and angled to create a series of consecutive squares radiating out from the center. Brace Block A piece of wood or metal, fitted into an angle of a piece of furniture to add strength or rigidity. Bracket foot A foot resembling an “L” on its side placed at the corners of cabinet furniture. Breakfront An item of furniture divided vertically into three sections, with the center section projecting forward. Broadloom Carpet woven on a wide loom. Brocade Used in fine, formal upholstery, it has raised surface patterns resembling embroidery. Broken pediment A decorative feature placed at the top of an item of furniture, which resembles a camel's hump. The center section of the hump is removed (hence the term “broken”) to make room for additional ornamental features. Buffet A buffet/sideboard without a hutch or storage cabinet on top. The French definition of the word is "a small sideboard; a place to keep dishes.” Bun Foot A foot shaped as a slightly flattened round ball typically used on chests of drawers or upholstered chairs. Bureau A desk built on top of a chest of drawers. The desk is revealed when a flap or “fall” is lowered.

Occasionally a bookcase sits on top of it. Burr veneer A veneer specially cut from a log to produce a highly figured, wavy pattern. Butler's tray A wooden tray with high sides and handles, which sits on top of a table or folding trestle. Occasionally made with folding sides which, when lowered, creates an oval shape. Butt Joint This is a type of joint where wood ends meet perpendicularly at right angles without overlapping or notching. Butt Match Veneer arrangement similar to book match, but joined end-to-end in a continuous strip. This may also be called end match. Butterfly Table A small folding table with splayed legs generally turned. The top has wing brackets underneath to support drop-leaf wings on either side. C Generic name given to storage furniture. Cabriole leg A table or chair leg with a gentle "S" shape which curves outward at the top and then curves inward while tapering gradually. Named after an early French term for "goat" (literally "goat's leg") it is common on Queen Anne and Chippendale style furniture. Occasionally referred to as a Queen Anne leg.

Camel back Used to describe furniture with a curve like a camel's hump along its back. Candelabra A large, branched candlestick. Canopy Literally meaning a "roof", as created over either a four-post bed or protruding outwards like a hood from an item of cabinet furniture. Capital The uppermost part of a column or pilaster, which crowns the shaft; often decorated. Cartouche The French word for cartridge, this refers to a scroll-like ornament, often an oval shape which was frequently used as the central motif in a design, and sometimes in a corner of a coved cornice. Casegoods or Case Pieces Furniture industry term for chests or cabinets. Casters Small wheels mounted on a swivel frame and then attached to a base or legs to facilitate moving a piece of furniture. Canterbury A portable magazine rack. Cedar Chest A rectangular storage chest made of sold cedar or cedar veneers to prevent moth damage on woolens. Center Match An arrangement of two veneer sheets of uniform size, matched in the center on a single face. Also called balance match. Chairback Headboard This is an open headboard style resembling the back of a dining room chair.

Chaise Lounge An upholstered settee with an arm at one end and a back that tapers down to seating level. Chamfer To bevel and edge. Checkerboard Match An arrangement of small squares of veneer with their grain lines alternating in direction, producing a checkerboard effect. Chenille Fabric with thick needle-punched design; often used on bedspreads and robes as well as casual upholstery. Chest on chest A large chest of drawers on which sits a slightly smaller chest of drawers. Chesterfield A leather settee with deep-buttoned upholstery and large rounded back and arms. Cheval Mirror A long freestanding mirror that swivels through its center to enable full-length viewing. China Cabinet A cabinet with a glass front and typically sits on a buffet or shallow cupboard. Chinoiserie Painted or lacquered furniture using designs drawn from Chinese art. Chintz Printed cotton fabric, frequently glazed, used in country or casual decoration. Chippendale Name applied to Thomas Chippendale’s eighteenth-century furniture designs, including the camelback sofa and the wing chair. Classic Refers to design based in the artistic standards, principles and methods of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Coffee Table A long, low table used in front of a sofa. Also called a cocktail table. Coffer A storage chest having a hinged lid. Combing A decorative paint technique that gives a wall a look of age and depth by layering or ‘washing’ increasingly thinner coats of paint over one another. Commode Small, low chest of drawers. Complementary colors Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel (i.e. blue and orange). Concept A comprehensive idea or generalization that brings diverse elements into some basic relationship. Core The inner layer of plywood or particleboard in veneered panels. Corner Block Triangular wood block used in the concealed structure under tabletops, inside cases, and at points of stress on upholstered furniture frames. Corner-breaking Taking the sharp edges off the corners on moldings, drawer fronts, doors, etc. Cornice Decorative section of wood that runs along the top of cabinet furniture and leans out at an angle to provide a pleasing finished appearance to the piece. Couch Also called a sofa; it is an upholstered seat typically for more than one person. Coving A curved molding connecting the ceiling and wall. Credenza A buffet, sideboard, or bookcase, especially one without legs.

A piece of office furniture having a long flat top. Crossbanding A veneer banding in which one layer of veneer runs at a right angle to the next layer in order to offset shrinking, swelling, and warping. Curio Cabinet An enclosed glass cabinet for displaying a variety of products such as glassware and other collectibles. Sometimes simply called a curio. Cutwork Embroidered fabric with decorative cut-out designs that are outlined in a buttonhole stitch. Cyma Curve A simple double-curved molding with a reversed curve as its profile. Derived from Greek meaning, “wave”. D Formal fabric with textural contrast between satiny and dull. Daybed Similar to a bed but narrower and with a padded seat back at one end for leaning against. Dentil molding A decorative feature composed of rectangular blocks (“teeth”) spaced at equal intervals, typically along the length of a cornice. Favored in 18th century design. Diamond Match Four pieces of relatively straight-grained wood veneer cut diagonally then joined to meet in a central diamond shape. Dinette Small-scaled dining furniture with a table and four to six chairs designed for kitchen use, but also used in small dining areas.

Distressing An antiquing process that makes new wood look old and used. Usually entails surface marks and indentations that are added during the finishing process. Dovetail- A type of joint generally used to join the front and sides of a drawer by having wedge-shaped projections on one piece of wood interlock with grooves in another piece of wood. Diversity Variety and multiformity. The opposite of unity and just a little adds interest. Too much can make a design chaotic. Dowel A round grooved wooden pin, peg, or rod that is fitted into the holes in two pieces of wood to hold them together. Down Soft, fluffy feathers from very young birds or from the undersides of older birds or fowl. This is used for stuffing pillows and cushions, often combined with polyester fibers. Drawer Guide/Slide These strips of wood or metal are placed under the center or on the outside of drawers to serve as a track on which they are drawn back and forth. Dresser/Dressing table An item of bedroom furniture consisting of a low table with drawers, usually with a kneehole and frequently having a mirror attached to the top. Drop leaf table A table with hinged leaves which can be lowered to save space when not in use.

Durapella® & Duraplush™ High-tech fabrics that consist of 100% MicroDenier polyester suede. Also called microfibers. Durablend™ A thin, horizontal board between two drawers in a chest to diminish dust accumulation. E Eclecticism A style in which furnishings and accessories of various periods and styles are deftly and harmoniously combined. Edging A method of protecting a veneer panel by applying a thin strip of solid wood, metal, or plastic at the edge of the panel. Also called banding. Embossing A type of design that is produced on a surface by hammering, stamping, pressing, or molding. Embroidery The art of working raised and ornamental designs in threads of silk, cotton, gold, silver, or other material, upon any woven fabric with a needle. Emphasis Directing special attention or effort to a specific object or area. Enamel Finish A coating of paint that can be brushed and sometimes rubbed to a high gloss. End Table Small side table that may be used at the end of a sofa or beside a chair. Engineered Wood Any restructured composite of wood, including oriented strand board, particleboard, and plywood.

Etagere A free standing open cabinet having several shelves used for display purposes. F The hinged front of a bureau that lowers to reveal the desk inside. Fan Pattern Width and evenness of paint coming out of spray gun. Fauteuil A French upholstered chair having open sides. Faux Literally French for “fake”, this term is used to describe things that appear to be of one material or finish, but in fact are not. An example is faux books where bookends are used to create the effect of a real library. Fiberfill A soft, synthetic material used as cushioning in upholstered furniture, bedding, and comforters. Polyester fibers are most commonly used. Fiddle back A back splat shaped like a violin, common in Windsor chairs. Filigree Ornamental openwork of delicate or intricate design that is usually done in gold or silver wire. Finger Joint A process by which the ends of pieces of lumber are machined and fastened together by using glue. The machined edge looks like a series of fingers. The objective is to reclaim short unusable pieces of lumber into longer useable pieces.

Finial A small carved or turned ornament used to provide a decorative finish to a tall vertical piece such as a long case clock or bedpost. Finish A treatment that is applied to wood to protect the surface and to make it more durable and resistant to stains and burns, to accentuate the natural grain, to lighten or deepen the color, to make a dull or glossy surface, or to change the color completely as by painting, lacquering, polishing, antiquing, distressing, etc. Fire Cut Veneer A combination of straight-grain and heart figure veneer produced by slicing half of a log directly through the center or heart. Flat packed furniture Also called KD, flat-pack or self-assembly furniture. Refers to furniture that is to be assembled by the end user. Flock Short fibrous particles that are applied by various processes to the surface of fabric, paper, or wood to give the appearance and feel of velvet or suede. Flip flop sofa A Japanese-style bed consisting of a soft mattress placed on a wooden frame. Some models fold to create a settee. Fluting Shallow vertical grooves, usually parallel, used to ornament a surface. Often used on columns or pilasters in classical architecture.

Folk art A broad category of handmade art objects, new or antique, that display a charmingly naïve, unsophisticated quality. Footboard A supporting piece at the foot end of a bed, sometimes decorative. Form Fills the space and defines the area. A good Visual Merchandiser will also look at the negative void areas as well. There are three basic categories for form; rectangle (rectilinear), the triangle (angular) and the circle (curved): Rectangular form gives room sturdiness but can be monotonous if overused. Angular/Diagonals are used to attract attention and imply motion. It can be used to increase size relationships. Curved forms imply change and continuity. Using circles and pinpoint or drawn attention to objects. Four Post Bed / Four Poster A bed having a post at each corner supporting a canopy. Four Way Match A veneer pattern produced by the combination of book matches and butt matches. Frame The supporting structure of a piece of furniture. French Provincial A term describing countrified versions of formal French furnishings of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; often referred to as “provencal” today. Fretwork Interlaced ornamental woodwork, usually in a complicated repeating, geometric pattern.

This is often used in backs of chairs, beds, in china cabinet doors, or on table aprons and legs. Frieze A heavy pile of upholstery and drapery fabric with rows of uncut loops. Usually made of mohair, wool, cotton, or man-made fibers. Fringe A decorative border of thread, cord, or the like, usually hanging loosely from a raveled edge or separate strip. Futon A folded mattress on a frame that can be folded up for seating or down to form a sleeping surface. G A drop-leaf table whose leaves are supported by extra legs that swing outwards like gates. Gesso (Pronounced jesso) A decorative feature created out of plaster commonly used on picture and mirror frames. Frequently finished by gilding or painting. Gilding A technique for applying gold to furniture and other surfaces. GMROI Gross margin return on investment. A calculation that clarifies how much gross margin is made on a piece of furniture compared to how much inventory is needed in stock. Grain Variations in color and texture made by the size and arrangements of cells and pores of a living tree and is revealed when wood is cut through the trunk in an essentially horizontal direction.

Grommet A plastic, metal, or rubber ring that is inserted into a hole made through another material. They may be used to reinforce the hole, to shield something from the sharp edges of the hole, or both. Gusset Frequently used to fuse any number of load-bearing columns with beams or trusses together. The members can be bolted, riveted or welded to the gusset. Their function is critical to the integrity of the structure they are supporting. H Hardware A generic term used to describe any metal fitting that goes onto furniture i.e., handles, locks, hinges, escutcheons, etc. Harmony The feeling created when tools are used together to provide a look that is pulled together. Hardwood A general term for the lumber of broad-leafed or deciduous trees in contrast to evergreen or coniferous trees, which are termed softwoods. Hassock A stuffed cushion used for a footstool or ottoman. Headboard A panel rising above mattress at the head of the bed. Often supports the bed rails. Heat Transfer Printing The technique of printing a fabric by transferring a printed design from paper onto fabric via heat and pressure.

Highboy A high chest of drawers, deriving its name from haut bois, which is French for "high wood." Homespun Originally, this was a fabric loomed by hand at home, but now the name of a loose, coarsely woven, power-loomed fabric that uses textured and bulky yarns to create a hand-woven look. Hope Chest Synonymous with a cedar chest and dowry chest. Hue The common name of a color. It indicates the color’s position in the spectrum or in the color circle. It is determined by the specific wavelength of the color in the ray of light. Hutch A two-part case piece that usually has a two-door cabinet below and open shelves above, originally dating from seventeenth-century England. I ILD (Indentation Load Deflection) Method for testing and measuring the firmness of latex foam. The test and measurement is done to a 4” x15” x 15” piece of foam placed on a flat surface. Then a round metal plate, 8” in diameter pushes down on that piece of foam. The amount of pressure, measured in pounds that it takes to compress the foam 25% (to 3”) is referred to as the ILD.

The greater the number the firmer the foam. Ashley Sleep uses various latex foams ranging between 14 and 28 ILD. Illumination Impacts the perception of space, form, line, texture and color by creating shadows and color. The intensity of hue will be affected by illumination. Strong dark colors absorb light while light tints reflect light. Inlay Veneers of contrasting colors cut into decorative shapes and set into the surface of wood furniture for ornamentation. Innerspring Mattress A mattress with a center core of springs for buoyancy and resilience. A protective pad surrounds the springs. Iridescent Brilliant, lustrous, or colorful in effect or appearance. In fabrics it is a changeable effect due to the color arrangement in the warp and filling yarns to provide contrast and interest. J Jacquard A formal, highly decorative fabric that includes damasks, tapestries, brocades, and all cloths with elaborate figures woven on a jacquard loom. Japanning A technique for decorating furniture which involves coating it with a hard, often black, lacquer and then applying oriental designs.

Joint When making furniture, this would be the junction at which two pieces of lumber unite to form a support or make a closure. K Kiln Dried Wood that has been dried in a control-heated chamber, as opposed to air dried, and is more likely to warp because the drying is less even. Knee Hole A space beneath a desk or dressing table designed to accommodate a person's legs to enable them to sit comfortably when using the top as a work surface. Knitted Fabrics Fabrics that are formed by knitting. The interlocking of loops of yarn rather than interlacing two sets of yarn as in weaving. Knock Down Furniture Also called KD, flat-pack or self-assembly furniture. Refers to furniture that is to be assembled by the end user. L Lacquer A durable varnish applied in several layers to protect furniture’s surface. Finishes can vary from matt to glossy. Ladder Back Chair A style of country chair with horizontal slats in the back that resemble a ladder. Laminate or "Lam" Applied covering to boards, which provide different appearances such as colors and grains (see also paper, vinyl).

A synonym for “replicated.” Lattice An openwork crisscross or fretwork made of thin, flat strips of wood or metal. Usually found on chairs and headboards. Lazy Susan A revolving tray or stand of wood or metal. Leaf A board or panel that is used as a tabletop extension. Some leaves are hinged to the table surface and must be raised to a horizontal position, as in a Pampero or gate-leg table. Other leaves are drawn out from beneath the table surface, as in the draw table. In other tables, the top can be separated and extended so leaves can be placed in the opening. Leather Match Upholstery that features top-grain leather in the seating areas with skillfully matched vinyl everywhere else. Line Works with form to emphasis or outline a space or materials used in a space. Horizontal lines can be used for a more relaxed look and to emphasis the length of a wall or item. Vertical lines added formality and height to an area. Lissere A delicate, multi-colored jacquard woven floral stripe. Long Care Clock Also referred to as a grandfather clock. A clock housed in a tall wooden case containing weights and a pendulum. Loveseat A small table with drawers on cabriole legs.

M Mantel The complete facing around the opening of a fireplace, including any shelf used above it as well as any part that projects from the wall. Marquetry Heavy use of inlays over a large surface to create a panoramic picture. Mattress Ticking The fabric that covers a mattress. Medallion A round or oval ornamental motif. Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) This is made by breaking down wood chips into fibers, mixing glue, and fusing the resulting mixture under heat and pressure to produce a board. Miter A surface slanted to another surface, it is called a miter when the angle is 45 degrees. Modular Furniture constructed in units that can be arranged in different configurations. Modular Carpet A round or oval ornamental motif. Moire Fabric, usually silk, with a rippled, wavy pattern that gives a watered appearance or wood grain. It has a very traditional appearance. Molding Decorative strips of wood applied to furniture for visual effect. Monochromatic Scheme A color scheme limited to one color in various tones. The value and intensity of the hue are used to provide contrast. This color is often simple and sophisticated.

Mortise and Tenon Joint Method of joining two pieces of wood where the projecting tenon of one piece fits into the opening (mortise) of the other. Motif A decorative design or subject. Motion Furniture Chairs, beds, or sofas containing mechanisms that allow the user to recline or extend their legs. Mount Ornamental metalwork applied to furniture – usually cabinet pieces, sometimes chairs. Muslin This is a plain-weave fabric that may be bleached or unbleached. Usually used as undercovering on upholstered pieces to tie in the stuffing and padding materials prior to putting on the final upholstery fabric. N A revival of the classic style and form. Nightstand Occasional table, sometimes with cabinet, drawer, or shelf, used beside a bed to hold such items as a lamp, clock, or telephone. May also be called a night table or bedside table. Non-woven Fabrics that are produced by the bonding or interlocking of fibers, or both. The non-woven fabric is made by mechanical, chemical, thermal, or solvent means, or with an adhesive, or any combination of these, as distinct from weaving, knitting, or tufting.

O Occasional Furniture A generic term used to describe small pieces of furniture such as lamp tables, coffee tables or magazine racks. Olefin A synthetic fiber that is extremely light, soil resistant, and an excellent insulator. This is often used to produce outdoor carpets and sturdy upholstery fabrics resistant to abrasion, pilling, and aging. Ottoman A long, low upholstered seat with no back: used with a chair as a footrest. If over scaled, can be used in place of a cocktail table. P A term used by artists and designers to describe a range of colors. Panel A surface set off from the surrounding surface by being raised, recessed or framed. Parquetry Furniture inlaid with geometrical designs similar to parquet floors. Parson's Table A square or rectangular table with wide, straight legs. Particle Board Panels that are manufactured by bonding wood particles with synthetic resins under heat and pressure. Used as the core for many plywood panels, as panels to be printed (engraved), or other uses in furniture construction. Also called fiberboard, chip core, hardboard, and medium density fiberboard. Patina The coloration and texture, which wood and leather acquire with age and use.

Pattern A repetitive component to a surface that can be used to modify scale, color or texture. They can be used to unit or clash with other items. Be very careful when working with multiple patterns. Pedestal Table A table supported by one or more cylindrical columns or “pedestals”. Pediment A decorative crest found at the top of tall pieces of furniture to achieve a pleasing finish. Pembroke Table A small rectangular drop leaf table. Perspective A means of showing a solid object on a surface so as to make it appear to have a third dimension. To make it convincing to the eye, sizes of distant objects are reduced; parallel lines tend to converge. Pickled Finish The result of rubbing white or off-white paint onto previously stained and finished wood. Piecrust Table A table, usually with a round top, that has an edge that is raised, scalloped or fluted; frequently a tilt-top table. Pier Mirror A tall mirror designed to be hung above a pier table. Piercing Decorative detail achieved by cutting shapes through thin wood such as chair splats. Pilaster A flattened column-like detail applied to furniture, bookcases, etc. as a decorative feature.

Pile This is cut or uncut loops that stand up on the face of a fabric, making it thick and three-dimensional, in contrast to flat-woven cloth. Pillow Shams Covers for pillows to match bed coverings, when pillows are propped on top of the bed. Plain Weave This is a basic weave in which the warp and weft are the same size and alternate under and over each other in a regular manner. Platform Bed A mattress that sets on the top of a wood or plastic platform or pedestal. Sometimes the mattress may recess into a frame on the top of the platform, and there is a shelf that may go partially or completely around the perimeter. Plenum Space An enclosed space in buildings, typically between the roof deck and suspended grid ceiling, used for heating, ventilating, and/or air-conditioning airflow. Polyester Parts made from pressed wood and sprayed with polyester material. Plywood A structural material made of very thin layers of wood bonded together with the grain of each layer, or ply, at right angles to that of the next. Polyfoam This is a synthetic resin that simulates latex foam rubber and is used for upholstered furniture, pillows, mattresses, etc. POP An abbreviation for Point of Purchase.

Associated with tags and showroom signage. POS An abbreviation for Point of Sales. Potboard An open shelf at the bottom of a piece of furniture traditionally used for storing pots and pans. Pot Cupboard A small bedside table which in times past housed a ceramic bowl or “pot”. Pouf A low upholstered stool of solid construction. Primary Colors Red, blue and yellow, from which all other colors are derived. Print A surface having a pattern imposed with ink or dye by means of stencils, rollers, blocks, or screens. Product Association A process in which lamps, rugs, bed linens and/or accessories are coordinated with Ashley product. This process is supported by the tagging system and national advertising. Pull A handle to open drawers or doors of cabinets. Profile The style of an edge. Proportion An agreeable or harmonious relation of parts within a whole; balance or symmetry. Q Queen Anne Leg A table or chair leg with a gentle "S" shape which curves outward at the top and then curves inward while tapering gradually. Named after an early French term for "goat" (literally "goat's leg") it is common on Queen Anne and Chippendale style furniture. Occasionally referred to as a Queen Anne leg.

Quilted Fabric Two layers of fabric that has padding between the layers, held in place by stitches that usually follow a definite pattern. Quirke A narrow groove channel separating molding from adjoining members. R Rabbet Joint A joining technique for supporting shelves or drawer bottoms in vertical units. The edge of the vertical piece of wood fits into a groove in the horizontal piece. Also known as a dado joint. Rail A generic term used to describe a long section of wood serving a functional purpose in furniture. Examples are the top rail in the back of a chair and the rails, which connect the headboard and footboard of a bed. Random Match In veneering and decorative surfacing, a casual, unmatched effect with no attempt at a symmetrical or a repetitive pattern. Reeding Close, parallel rows of convex moldings. The opposite of fluting. Relief A carved decoration, which stands proud of the surface on which it appears. Reproduction New furniture which is a copy of an antique. Restoration Work carried out on furniture to bring it back to its original condition. Retro A setting, furniture pieces or decorative element that revives a style or look of the past.

Return The part of an L-shaped desk that is at right angles to the main work surface, providing additional workspace. Reverse Box Match A decorative veneer technique similar to a reverse diamond match, and aligned to create a cross-patterned center with right-angled patterns going off in four directions. Reverse Diamond Match Four wedges of wood or veneer set together to form an X at the center with consecutively smaller V's radiating out from the center in all four directions. May also be called butterfly match. Rhythm The alteration of strong and weak elements to create movement. We want the eye to travel around an area. Roll Top Desk Desks with a tambour cover which rolls back to reveal the writing surface. Rotary-Cut Veneer A slice of veneer made by cutting a log in a circular manner around the circumference. A bold, variegated grain is then produced because the cut follows the log's annual growth rings. Runner A rail used to support additional leaves on an extending dining table. Rush A variety of sea grass that is used to weave chair seats or a long stem of marsh-growing plant. S Sateen A strong, lustrous, satin-weave cotton fabric.

May be bleached, dyed, printed, or made with woven patterns. Scale A term referring to the size of objects in relation to each other. Sectional Furniture Upholstered furniture composed of complementary sections that can be grouped in a variety or arrangements or used separately. Secondary Colors Colors produced by mixing two primary colors, such as yellow and blue to form green; red and yellow to form orange; and red and blue to form purple. Secretaire A sideboard with false drawers that drop forward to reveal a desk and work surface. Self-Assembly Furniture Also called KD, flat-pack or self-assembly furniture. Refers to furniture that is to be assembled by the end user. Semainier A tall, narrow seven-drawer chest introduced in the Louis XV period, with one drawer for each day of the week. Also called a lingerie chest. Serial Numbers Numbers that identify product (i.e., identifies vendor and manufacturer). Serpentine Front An item of furniture that has a curved front that is first concave, then convex before becoming concave again. Serving Table A long narrow table with drawers. Settee Another word for a sofa. Settle A rustic wooden bench having a high back and solid arms.

The seat is often hinged to reveal storage space beneath. Shade The darker values of a color obtained by mixing the color with black. Shaker Design Furniture made by the Shaker religious sect, noted for its functional simplicity, austere beauty and fine workmanship. Sheen In wood finishing, this is a degree of luster of a dried film. Shield Back Chair A chair in the Hepplewhite style having a back in the shape of a shield. Short Rail Displaying a bed’s headboard and footboard using 6 inch rails. Sideboard A buffet or a credenza. A long, waist high piece of furniture used for serving food. The most common arrangement is cupboards below and drawers above. Side Chair A chair with a small seat (15 to 18 inches wide) and no arms. Sisal A strong natural fiber originally used for rope; now often used to make rugs; sometimes blended with wool in carpet. Skirt A fabric valence around the base of an upholstered chair, sofa, etc., to hide the legs and wood construction of the seat. Slat Any thin, flat section of wood.

Examples are bed slats which are used to support a mattress and horizontal back slats in a ladder back chair. Sleigh Bed A popular French Empire-style bed having a high scrolled headboard and footboard, creating the impression of a sleigh or a boat (also called “lit bateau” or “boat bed”). Slip Cover A removable fitted cover made to protect upholstery fabric, cover worn upholstery or to provide a change for a new season. Slip seat A removable, upholstered chair seat. Sofa Also called a couch; it is an upholstered seat typically for more than one person. Sofa Bed A generic term referring to a variety of sofas with mechanisms that allows them to convert from a sofa to a bed. Also called a sofa sleeper or convertible sofa. Softwood Wood from an evergreen tree such as the pine with needle-like, scale-like, or coniferous leaves. Space Interior space is the shaped volume defined by various architectural forms such as ceiling, floors, walls and other architectural elements. A Designer will evaluate and use tools to define structure and alter it. Spindle Back A chair having vertically arranged spindles in the back. Splat A flat, vertical piece of wood found in the center of a chair back.

Staining For wood finishing, this is the process of applying coloring matter to the outer surfaces of wood to enhance the grain, provide uniform overall color, or to imitate or match other cabinet woods. Stretcher A horizontal arrangement of rails used to connect the legs on tables and chairs to provide structural strength. Stylized A design that has been done according to the rules of a style rather than according to nature. Sunburst Figured wood grain in which rays radiate outward from a central point. Also called pie match. Symmetry Formal balance created by arranging objects so they form mirror images on either side of an imaginary line that goes through the middle of a grouping of objects. T Taffeta A medium-weight or light-weight fabric of acetate, nylon, rayon, or silk, usually smooth, crisp, and lustrous, plain-woven, and with a fine crosswise rib effect. Tambour Door A flexible door that can be concealed by rolling it into a piece of furniture. Tapestry Thick woven fabric with pictorial design. Task Lighting Lighting needed to perform a specific task. i.e., desk lamp.

Tassel A pendent ornament consisting commonly of a bunch of threads, small cords, or other strands hanging from a round knob or head, used on clothing, in jewelry, on curtains, etc. Tester Bed A bed having two posts at the headboard supporting a half canopy above. Texture The characteristic of a material that can be felt or seen. You can achieve the perception of texture by lighting and the surface materials of the items. Smooth, shiny surfaces make objects clean and brighter in color. Those surfaces also emphasis the outline of the object. Rough surfaces tend to absorb sound and light and tend to give off a warm feeling. Ticking A striped cotton or linen fabric, originally used for mattress covers but now used decoratively, as well. Tilt Top Table A small, often round table with a hinged top, which can be raised when not in use. Tint The lighter values of a color obtained by mixing the color with white. TOB An abbreviation for Top of Bed. Ashley TOB sets contain a comforter, pillow shams, and a bed skirt. Tone The darkness or lightness of a color; different colors may be of the same tone.

Tongue and Groove A flush wood joint in which a long, straight projection of one board fits into a corresponding groove in another board. Torchere The French word for candelabra. These are often large, sometimes standing on the floor. A floor lamp that directs the light upward. Trestle Table A rustic rectangular table with a top supported by two wide boards or "trestles" at either end. The two trestles are joined by a single stretcher. Trompe l’oeil (Pronounced tromp loi) Literally French for “trick the eye”, a painting which cleverly uses shadow and light to create the appearance of a three dimensional object. Trundle Bed Pullout bed on casters somewhat smaller than the bed under which it is set. Tufting An upholstery technique where the covering fabric and the padding are tied back in a definite pattern, creating small "pillows" between depressions. Turning An ornamental or structural part of furniture made by rotating a cylindrical piece of wood on a lathe and shaping with cutting tools. Twill Tightly woven with a diagonal ridge such as denim or herringbone fabrics. U Unity The combination of elements to support a concept.

It is achieved through the repetition of elements such as color, pattern or shape. Unity is a narrower definition of harmony. Upholstery Generic term used to describe any item of sitting furniture that is covered in fabric. Uprights Term used to describe any vertical structural component i.e., “The uprights in the back of that chair”. V Velour This is a soft pile upholstery fabric, generally woven in a satin weave or plain weave, resulting in a short, thick pile. Velvet Formal elegant fabric with fur-like feel and a cut pile. Velveteen A pile fabric often of cotton or rayon with a short, nappy surface. Veneer A thin layer of wood cut from a log in such a way as to maximize the beauty of the grain pattern. Veneers are then glued onto a solid substrate, which is then made into furniture. The result is sturdy furniture with a decorative outer appearance. Vinyl Another type of laminate that is thicker and more durable than paper laminate (see also “laminate”). Vitrine French term for a display cabinet with glass doors.

V Match Veneer cut and butted together to form a decorative pattern in which the wood grain radiates from the centerline to form a pattern resembling a series of V's set one over the other. W Wainscoting Wood paneling applied to walls from baseboards to the desired height, usually about one-third of the way up a wall. Wall Washers Angled down lights which bathe the wall surface in light. Weave A process of making fabrics by interlacing warp threads with weft or filling yarns. Webbing Strips of tightly woven plastic, nylon, rubber, elastic, or metal used in upholstery construction as a support for, or in place of, springs under the cushions. Welting A fabric-covered cord sewed into the edge seams of upholstery where a firm, defined edge is needed as for a box shaped cushion. Wet Wall The wall where plumbing fixtures are located. Wheatear A decorative motif resembling an ear of wheat. Wicker Strong woven matting of willow, reed, or rattan cut into different diameters then used to construct furniture, often for outdoor use.

Windsor Chair A popular 18th century wooden chair having a solid seat and a back formed from a bent wood hoop and vertical spindles. Wing Chair An upholstered armchair with a high back from which lateral head rests, or “wings”, protrude on either side. Y Synonyms for “Sofa” Synonyms for “Sofa” By Mark Nichol The item of furniture that is usually the centerpiece of a living room or family room or a lobby or waiting room goes by any one of many names, but they have useful distinctions in meaning. Here’s a rundown of sofa and its associated terms. Sofa, ultimately from Arabic, originally denoted a raised carpeted floor, but it is now the primary term in American English for a long piece of furniture for seating. (A sectional sofa, often called simply a sectional, is formed from multiple pieces, two of which join at an angle so that the furniture can be placed in the corner of a room.) A settee—the relatively rare term stems from the Old English word setl—is a sofa, often with fewer cushions or none at all, with a back and (usually) arms.

Couch, ultimately from the Latin word collocare, meaning “lay or place,” is interchangeable with sofa but originally referred to a piece of furniture for lying down that was backless, with only the head raised. It is still used in this sense in reference to furniture on which a psychiatrist’s patient lies during a session. (“Casting couch” alludes to the practice in which a film or theater producer seduces someone on the piece of furniture in exchange for giving that person a role.) Couch is also a verb with a seemingly unrelated meaning; originally, it referred to inlaying or overlaying gold, but it has also long had a sense of “put into words,” with the idea that a message is worded in such a way to obscure the truth or influence perception. Canapé, adopted into English from French to refer to an elegantly styled sofa, derives from the Greek word for mosquito or gnat; it originally referred to a mosquito net. (The English word canopy is cognate, and canapé, referring to a type of appetizer, was inspired by the furniture term.) Squab, of Scandinavian origin, is an obscure synonym for couch that can also refer to a cushion.

The love seat, originally designed hundreds of years ago to accommodate one woman during an era when fashion dictated voluminous apparel, evolved into a piece of furniture that seated two people—often, a couple, hence the name. (It was also known as a courting chair.) A variation on the love seat is the tête-à-tête (the term, French for “head to head,” also refers to a private two-way conversation), which seats two people facing in opposite directions and separated by an S-shaped armrest. A davenport (the name is that of a now-defunct furniture company that produced such furniture) is a large sofa that may or may not be able to be converted into a bed; the term is used primarily in the Midwest and in upstate New York, though it may refer elsewhere to a futon-style sofa. (Davenport is also the name of a compact writing desk such as that also manufactured by the same company.) The traditional Japanese futon is a portable mattress, but in the United States and other Western countries, futon refers to a sofa topped with a cushion that can be unfolded to form a mattress when the frame is adjusted to serve as a bed. A chesterfield, meanwhile, is a davenport with upright armrests.

The name, which survives primarily in Canada but also, interestingly, in Northern California, derives from an earl of Chesterfield who commissioned a style of furniture that became popular during the 1700s. (Chesterfield is also the name of a type of overcoat with a velvet collar.) Several other terms denote convertible sofas: A daybed is a bed designed to be used as a sofa, a sofa bed is a sofa that can be unfolded to form a bed, and a studio couch—the name derives from the use of studio to refer to a small one-room apartment, not an artist’s chamber—is a backless couch with a cot that can be pulled out from underneath it and fitted alongside the couch to form a double bed. A divan, meanwhile—the word derives ultimately from the Persian word for a book or a bundle of papers and later a government council—is a seat that is often armless and/or backless. (In the United Kingdom, the term refers to a type of bed.) Similar items designed for one person include the fainting couch, a small, narrow fully or partially backless sofa with one end raised.

(The name originated in the nineteenth century, supposedly when constricting corsets required that such furniture be conveniently located for a woman short of breath to recline and recuperate.) A recamier (named after the subject of a painting in which such an item appeared) resembles the fainting chair but is distinguished by having a curved high headrest and a matching low footrest. The chaise longue is a reclinable chair extended to provide support for the legs. (The second word is often spelled or at least pronounced in American English like lounge, though the term is French for “long chair.”) An ottoman, though not technically a sofa, is often an accessory to one or to a chair; it is a backless, armless seat on which one can sit or put up one’s feet. Originally, the name applied to a couch for reclining, a style inspired by habits observed in the Ottoman Empire during the nineteenth century. Bench, related to bank and with multiple meanings, refers in this context to a long, usually hard seat for two or more people.

A banquette (the word, from French, is a diminutive of banc, meaning “bench”) is an upholstered bench, often built in along a wall, or a sofa with one arm. (The term also refers to a raised surface along a parapet or a trench used in warfare to accommodate soldiers to fire guns over the barrier; in Southern US dialect, it is also a synonym for sidewalk.) Subscribe to Receive our Articles and Exercises via Email You will improve your English in only 5 minutes per day, guaranteed! Subscribers get access to our exercise archives, writing courses, writing jobs and much more! You'll also get three bonus ebooks completely free! 3 Responses to “Synonyms for “Sofa”” Andrew Halliwell on March 03, 2016 12:30 pm You missed out a long upholstered seat for more than one person, typically with a back and arms. venqax on March 03, 2016 7:54 pm Very interesting. I did not know that love seats originally had a different, single-person, purpose.

I was taught (wrongly, no doubt) that the difference between a couch or a sofa and a davenport was that the former was inside in the living or family room, while the latter was outside on the porch or patio. The difference between a couch and a sofa was probably the price tag, a sofa being a fancy couch. Folk etymology from the folks, of course. I did not know about the Davenport furniture company, either. Really enlightening. Folk etymology from the folks, of course. I have to admit that chaise “lounge” is one of those beastly barbarisms I cannot be silent about. It’s right up there with the spelling “barbeque”. Kim Siever on March 03, 2016 11:55 pm FYI, very few people use “chesterfield” in Canada anymore. I do, but hardly anyone I know does.

Modern Furniture : 150 Years of Design by Martin Wellner and Andrea Mehlhose (2013, Hardcover) | eBay Modern Furniture : 150 Years of Design by Martin Wellner and Andrea Mehlhose (2013, Hardcover) $19.75New $13.74Used $13.59New $6.58Used Synopsis Synopsis "Modern Furniture presents a retrospective of the most important developments and highlights in furniture design of the past 150 years, beginning with the latest trends for 2011. The spotlight focuses on several individual gems of design, from the most contemporary Heaven series of the Italian manufacturer Emu back to the famous cantilever chair, but also on creations such as laminate and chipboard that we no longer regard as design innovations but have nevertheless greatly influenced the home decor of our times.

Concise texts accompanying the individually featured designs, as well as excurses on selected themes and styles written by experts, round off this benchmark illustrated book." ",Modern Furniture presents on 704 pages a retrospective of the most important developments and highlights in furniture design of the past 150 years, beginning with the latest trends for 2011. The spotlight focuses on several individual gems of design, from the most contemporary Heaven series of the Italian manufacturer Emu back to the famous cantilever chair, but also on creations such as laminate and chipboard that we no longer regard as design innovations but have nevertheless greatly influenced the home decor of our times. Concise texts accompanying the individually featured designs, as well as excurses on selected themes and styles written by experts, round off this benchmark illustrated book.Martin Wellner and Andrea Mehlhose, alias Fremdkorper, established the design studio 1996 in Cologne. Fremdkorper is active internationally as a design consultancy and designer in the fields of interior design, exhibition design, and graphic design, as well as the corporate identity and corporate design sectors. Following the success of their book ECHT WAHR?

Kuriose Meldungen der (dpa), also published by h.f.ullmann in 2007, the authors now reveal their expertise and penchant for furniture design with Modern Furniture." Product Identifiers Reviews Reviews "Modern Furniture: 150 Years of Design informatively, idiosyncratically, and entertainingly teaches us not to buy into the pretention, but rather to recognize these icons of our lives--the new religious objects of our daily culture so close at hand but far from our thoughts. Seeing the design of your environment through the eyes of Modern Furniture will help you see the design of your life clearer than ever before." Our Furniture -- Ourselves? While flipping through Modern Furniture: 150 Years of Design, I couldn''t help but stop and smile at seeing the same monobloc chair sitting on my backyard deck sitting there on the pages of a proposed history of modern furniture design. When we think of modern furniture design, we too often think of wildly experimental and wildly expensive items found only in the homes of the rich and famous.

However, as Andrea Mehlhose and Martin Wellner , founders of the design company Fremdk�rper and editors of Modern Furniture, show, modern design is all around us in such a ubiquitous way that we barely notice. Recognizing the power of design to simplify and change our lives can help us recognize a great deal of our culture. Modern Furniture demonstrates that our furniture really tells us a lot about ourselves. The first thing that strikes you about the design of this history of modern furniture design is that time runs in reverse. Mehlhose and Wellner explain that reversal by stressing that their book "focuses on current design, which is why we have chosen to stray away from the generally more common chronological approach and instead begin by presenting the most contemporary pieces of furniture... Historical connections and contexts, developments in materials and form languages might only become evident later on, yet clarity never suffers." On my first run through, I played along and began with the modern pieces before going old school. The effect feels a little subversive at first, but I did feel a greater appreciation for the founding fathers and mothers of modern design after seeing just how those roots spread in so many directions later on.

As critic Max Borka writes in one of the many entertaining and illuminating digressive essays, "Design history can be reduced to one single polarity... On the one hand, there was the curvy, dynamic, organic and spontaneous line that evoked the natural. On the other hand, there was the straight line, caught in a grid or chessboard pattern, and later evolving into the box." By starting with the ending rather than the beginning, you really get a full sense of how the curvy and the straight have battled for the past century and a half. Modern Furniture allows the furniture to do most of the talking. A generous sampling of high quality photos give you a full picture of the state of the art over the decades. As smoothly and sleekly as that reverse chronology flows, it doesn''t flow evenly.

With 80 plus pages devoted to the 1980s, but just 16 pages covering the 40 years from 1899 through 1859, Modern Furniture can feel less like "150 Years of Design" and more like "I Love the ''80s." However, this survey unapologetically wears its heart on its sleeve and more than justifies the inequality with fascinating explanations of the New German Design and Italian-founded Memphis movements that injected new energy into design throughout the 1980s. The Memphis style, with its "optimistic" approach and desire "to arouse emotions through the object," especially transformed the ''80s into a golden, transformative age for furniture. The real stars of the show, however, are the individual pieces. Just when the text becomes for the uninitiated a dizzying game of musical chairs, tables, etc., the helpful digressions point out places to stop, look, and think.

Yiannis Ghikas'' 2011 coat rack titled Game of Trust (in which Y-shaped poles lean on one another for support while keeping your coat from touching the floor) subtly comments on this age of distrust of authority.,Book Review: Modern Furniture 150 Years of Design This full color comprehensive collection of innovative, often timeless furniture design showcases the best and sometimes worst of the past one hundred fifty years. Emphasizing the work of individual designers, several furniture pieces feature unusual materials such as newsprint, nylon rope, leather and rags in addition to the more traditional wood, glass and plastic. Brief descriptions in English, French and German accompany every photograph include something about the construction, materials or designer. Whether it's a polyurethane cactus coat rack or a futuristic chest of drawers constructed from fiberglass and riveted sheet aluminum, many of the pieces shown push the design envelope in unexpected directions. One thing that really comes through in this collection, although the materials frequently vary, the sweeping lines, proportions and overall look of furniture made a hundred years ago are not that different from those that define contemporary pieces today. This volume will appeal to interior and graphic designers as well as anyone interested in furniture and furniture designers.

Appeared August 13, 2012 in Lifestyle Book Reviews section of Monsters & Critics entertainment website written by Sandy Amazeen,Furniture Fantasies: "Modern Furniture: 150 Years of Design" One of the world''s most revered design meccas, Vitra Design Museum, located in Germany a short ride from Basel, Switzerland, attracts architecture and furniture aficionados from around the world for its jaw-dropping collection by designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, Alvar Aalto, Jean Prouvé, and numerous other modern masters of furniture flights of fancy. If this summer doesn''t include a pilgrimage to the Vitra, then consider the next best thing: the monograph of modern furniture published by h.f.ullmann. The new trilingual, 720-page edition of "Modern Furniture: 150 Years of Design" is a sweeping retrospective of furniture design, ranging from an 1859 "bistro chair" to the latest design trends through 2011. Organized in reverse chronological order, the five-pound tome is an encyclopedia of furniture pornography.

Seductively photographed, the various chairs (as well as tables, chests, and other furniture fetishes) take on personalities as vivid as individuals - and particularly when aligned with brief texts (written in English, French, and German) that describe the composition and manufacturing process behind each anthropomorphic creation. A coiled felt chair soaked in silicon from The Coiling Collection (2011) suggests an upholstered mushroom while a futurist "Hemp Chair" (2011) would fit in perfectly with "The Jetsons." Eileen Gray''s Transat chair (1927), named for trans-Atlantic ocean crossings, evokes the romance of cruise liners in the days before commercial aviation. In flipping through "Modern Furniture: 150 Year of Design," design mavens and decor lovers might find themselves walking a fine line between temptation and torture. How to afford, for example, Tejo Remy''s "Chest of Drawers," which Dutch design firm Droog has produced since 1993 and which has sold for five-figure sums at auctions around the world?

(Is it a comfort to know that one of Remy''s "Chest of Drawers" resides in the permanent collection of New York''s Museum of Modern Art?) And speaking of princely sums, what would one have to hock in order to obtain Josef Hoffman''s "Kubus" (1910), his cubic black leather chair, for one''s own office (or dungeon)? The authors, Martin Wellner and Andrea Mehlhose (also known as Fremdkorpher), highlight the most important developments in furniture design while also featuring avant garde pieces. For every piece by Aalto, Jacobsen, Panton, and Eames, there''s a lesser-known object such as Tom Dixon''s "S-Chair" (1989) looking like a sculpture by Brancusi. Or Alessandro Mendini''s "Proust" chair from 1978 looking as imposing as Gertrude Stein and every bit as lushly lapidary as Proust''s prose.

Essays on selected styles and themes, written by design experts, are interspersed throughout the book - as if to punctuate the lush photographs (and allow the reader pause from such covetous cravings). Author Max Borka contributes a short history of design fairs, contending that "fairs are to design what museums are to art," which goes a long way in explaining how it is that Marc Newsom''s "Lockheed Lounge Chair" sold by Christie''s at auction is the singular most expensive design object. No tome on modern furniture would be complete without commentary on Philippe Starck, whom Karianne Fogelberg terms "agent provocateur" for Starck''s trademark provocation and "complete disregard for rules." Perhaps as much as Arne Jacobsen during his lifetime, Starck has shaped our public spaces and the shapes into which we place our fannies. And speaking of "The Jetsons," George and Judy Jetson must''ve loved Michel Feith''s polished gold tea trolley (1984) created from soldered sheet brass and powered by an electrical drive that enables the trolley to speed across the room by remote control.

Imagine this little toy at your summer share on the Island.,VISUALIZER: 'MODERN FURNITURE' A Brief History of Sleek Seats The pieces might be simple, striking or playful--and sometimes, perhaps, not all that comfortable. "Modern Furniture" (H.F. Ullmann, $29.99) surveys the past 150 years of sleek design in chairs, sofas, tables and the like. The 700-page book, just out in a new edition, includes photos of iconic objects and other influential items. Examples range from the 1859 "bistro chair," with an arc of rounded wood at the back, now found in cafes everywhere, to a 2011 stool made out of a material called concrete canvas. Pelican chair, 1940 Danish designer Finn Juhl was inspired by surrealist artists' interpretations of the human body for this chair--though some critics at the time called it "walrus-like." Cactus, 1972 Designers often focus on chairs--but it's not all about seating. Here, Pop Art meets coat rack: Produced by Gufram, this seemingly prickly cactus is made of polyurethane.

Meltdown Chair PP Tube, 2008 British designer Tom Price has melted a seat-shaped form on a variety of plastic objects--including cable ties, PVC hose and, at left, plumbing tubes. The process, he says, is "controlled chaos." Floris, 1967 It looks as though it's made from one piece, but the German-made chair is a two-piece construction. Lounge Chair, 1963 Because the production process was so complicated, only a few hundred copies of this plywood chair, by designer Grete Jalk, were originally made. Wall Street Journal June 16, 2012 Weekend Edition Review in Life & Culture section.

Question: The translation 'long chair' refers to what traditionally French named item of furniture?
Answer: Chaise Longue