acanthus leaf: ornate decorative motif, found most commonly on case goods, of a stylized leaf. While the design originated in the architecture of ancient Greece, it persists as a mark of rich, opulent design.

appliqué: decorative ornament adhered to a surface. Can refer to pieces of fabric sewn together, or to carved wood elements attached to the surface of a case good.

apron: rail that runs between table legs and helps to support a table top.

arrow back chair: a variety of Windsor chair in which the vertical members of the back that connect the seat and the top of the back resemble arrows. These spindles are round at both ends but flatten in the middle with an arrow-like flare

Arts & Crafts: an aesthetic movement, with political overtones, in decorative arts that originated in England as a reaction to the impact of the industrial revolution which created inhumane working conditions and produced shoddy work. Arts & Crafts emphasized the handiwork of the artisan with simple, rectilinear lines, and exposed construction techniques. Mid-toned oak finishes that highlight the natural grain of the wood are predominate in this style. The style grew out of a rejection of the ornate, dark and heavy fashion of Victorian furniture.

bail: inverted arch handle, usually hinged to a back plate, that is used to pull open a drawer.

beading: decorative molding consisting of a line of small, convex half-spheres.

book matching veneers: veneers that are aligned so that grain patterns of adjoining pieces are reflective of each other.

bow front: a case piece with a convexly curved front.

bracket foot: a low, right angle foot, usually constructed with a mitered corner. May be plain, molded, or scrolled. Common on Hepplewhite and Sheraton. Also known as a console leg.

broken pediment: a crown at the top of case goods that nearly forms a low-pitched triangle, but has either a void or a finial at the triangle apex.

burl: a beautiful swirled pattern in the grain of a piece of wood caused by a deformity in the tree. Burled wood is often used as a veneer.

cabriole: a bowed, curved leg that tapers to a smaller foot, similar to the shape of an animal's leg. canopy bed: traditionally, a bed with a fabric roof over it. Originally a symbol of rank and privilege, today the canopy may be a wrought iron or wood frame with stretchers between the posters, with or without the fabric draperies.

claw and ball foot: a carved foot at the base of a leg that looks like a an animal paw or a bird talon grasping a ball. Often found on cabriole legs.

corner block: reinforcing blocks of wood bolted to the interior corners of furniture for increased strength and stability.

cornice: horizontal molding at the top of a wall or case good; can also mean a decorative molding at the top of a window that hides curtain fixtures

dentil molding: decorative molding of rectangular blocks evenly spaced. So named for its resemblance to teeth.

drawer glide: an interlocking track that help ensures a drawer is guiding along a straight path when it is pulled out or reseated in its station. Glides may be mounted underneath a drawer or mounted on the sides and can be made of wood, metal or nylon; metal and nylon glides may incorporate small wheels or ball bearings.

dust panels: linings between drawers in case goods that prevents the migration of dust, thus keeping clothing and other stored items cleaner.

egg and dart molding: a relief motif of ovals and the curved negative space they create when lined in a row.

end matching: the process of placing veneers end-to-end to create a continuous pattern.

English dovetail: wood furniture constriction technique consisting of a series of stacked, tapered, interlocking wedges.

finial: a terminating ornament, such a the top of a post, that is carved or turned on a lathe.

four-way matching: combined use of book matching and end matching veneers to create a larger pattern.

French dovetail: wood furniture constriction technique consisting of one long grove that fits with an interlocking wedge.

French provincial: style characteristic of 17th and 18th century France. May also be referred to as European country.

inlay: design formed of contrasting woods, grains, metal, tortoiseshell, mother of pearl, or other material inserted to be flush with the furniture surface.

ladder-back: a chair with horizontal supports across the back, resembling a ladder.

laminate: the process of bonding or gluing together several layers. May also refer to the final product of the process, often with a decorative surface of paper or fabric covered with melamine resin.

landscape mirror: a mirror intended to be used above a case good, such as a dresser or sideboard.

marquetry: intricate close-fitting inlays of wood, ivory, mother-of-pearl or metal as a surface decoration. Often executed as a veneer.

mission style: a late 19th, early 20th century style that is considered the American version of the English Arts and Crafts movement. Simple, rectilinear lines, exposed construction techniques and mid-toned oak finishes that show off the natural grain of the wood are dominate characteristics of this style. American mission style added elements of Spanish mission style and was notably influenced by Gustav Stickley and Frank Lloyd Wright.

motif: a thematic element of design, in carvings, inlay, fabric pattern or other surface decoration.

pediment: a decorative crown, sometimes a low-pitched triangle, at the top of case goods.

pilaster: surface ornament resembling a column. Often paired with a pediment.

quarter-sawn: the lengthwise sawing of logs into quarters to produce boards with distinctive grain patterns. Particularly common in mission style furniture.

reeding: decorative carving or element that consists of vertical, convex, semi-circular groves.

serpentine: carved or appliqued ornamentation consisting of reflective "S"-shaped curves.

Shaker style: The Shakers were a religious sect in that grew from the Quaker religion around the time of the revolutionary war, in the state of New York. The Calvinistic bent of the group led them to develop a furniture style devoid of ornamentation, without carvings, inlays or veneers. Construction details, such as exposed dovetails, became prominent in Shaker designs. Shakers were also responsible for several design innovations such as swivel chairs and tilting chairs.

shield back: the back of a chair which is shaped like a shield.

slat back chair: a chair with a back consisting of one or more wide, flat vertical supports.

stretcher: stabilizing element connecting the legs of a chair or table somewhat below the seat of a chair or the top of the table.

transitional: a furniture style in which design elements are toned down so that the piece may fit with a traditional or more contemporary décor.

turning: a furniture element that was shaped with the use of a lathe.

veneer: a surface overlay of a thin sheet of wood. The underlying material may be solid wood, or a composite wood product.

webbing: the foundation of a seat on upholstered furniture. Composed of interwoven strips of jute or synthetic material that is two to three inches wide, the strips are attached to the frame to create a hammock-like suspension that is covered with padding and fabric for seat cushions to rest on.

welt: fabric-covered cord used as a trim in the seams of upholstery or toss pillows. Also known as cording or piping.