Glossary of Terms,
Antique Furniture
D
Dado: A square groove cut with or across the grain of the wood.
Damask: A flat-woven reversible upholstery fabric in a figured pattern on silk, linen, wool, cotton, nylon, or combinations.
Davenport: Small writing desk. In current American use, an upholstered sofa.
Daybed: Uni-level couch with low head and foot boards, used lengthwise against the wall; for resting in the daytime.
Deal: English term for pine, particularly the Scotch pine.
Dentils: Molding or inlay pattern made up of regularly-spaced rectangles, resembling teeth.
Diamond-Matched Veneer: Straight-grained woods cut diagonally and put together in quarters so as to produce a diamond pattern.
Directoire: Period ( 1792-1804) following the French Revolution when royal decoration was replaced by classic ornament. Furniture which showed Greek and Roman influence was simple and graceful.
Divan: upholstered couch without arms or back, originating in Turkish form of piling rugs for reclining.
Document Drawer: In desk cabinets, the small vertical drawers, usually found one on each side of the central compartment in the interior or writing section. Often ornamented with carved colonnettes, etc.
Doric: The second order of Classic architecture, also one of the plainest, the capital having little carving.
Double Dresser: Low chest with two tiers of drawers, usually three in each.
Dough Box, Dough Tray: Early American cabinet with lid, mounted on four high legs. Originally used in breadmaking; now as storage or toy chest.
Dovetail: Method of joining boards at right angles by interlocking wedge-shaped tenons and mortises. Generally used in drawer construction. Also, a butterfly-shaped inset used to join boards lengthwise in table tops and floors.
Drake Foot: A three-toed foot found on Queen Anne furniture.
Dresser: Derivative of the French term, dressoir. Originally a table used to dress meats. Evolved into cupboard for utensils and dishes. In United States term applies to chest of drawers with mirror.
Dressing Glass: Wood-framed tilting mirror mounted atop a miniature chest with one or two tiers of tiny drawers. Originally used as a shaving mirror.
Drop Front: Hinged desk which falls forward to form a writing surface.
Drop Leaf: Table with hinged leaf or leaves which, when raised, extends top surface.
Drum Table: Round library table with a deep apron, sometimes with drawers.
Dry Sink: Low Early American two-door cupboard with zinc or copper-lined open sink top, behind which rises a background. The forerunner of today's kitchen sink, it's currently used as a bar or a planter.
Dust Proofing: Thin panel used between to exclude dust.
Dutch Cupboard: Large cabinet or buffet with open shelves above for displaying plates, etc.
