Glossary of Terms,
Antique Furniture
F
Facade: The front of a building; also applied to the front of cabinets.
Fall Front: A drop front or drop lid, as in a cabinet-desk or piano. Sometimes "slant front".
Fan: Radiating design suggesting a fan, either upright or downward position.
Fancy Chairs: Early 19th Century American chairs designed or decorated in the imitation of imported models. These often have a charming and revealing style, such as the Sheraton-inspired work of Hitchcock.
Feathered: Certain grains, particularly of mahogany and satinwood, are referred to as feathered when they are cut to show a plume like figure.
Federal: American period(1795-1830) beginning shortly after the Revolution. Classic style, mirroring that of Europe at the time. Wood mainly mahogany; with extensive use of brass.
Ferrule: Metal band at the base of a wood chair leg.
Festoon: Carved or molded ornamentation representing a garland or series of curves; scallops made up a floral chain, a rope, a drapery, etc.
Fiddle Back: Chair with violin-shaped splat back.
Field Bed: Small-scaled canopy bed with comparatively low posts and curved canopy. Originally designed as a portable bed.
Figure: In wood, certain characteristic marking other than the customary straight grain. These are spoken of as crotches, burls, butts, curls, mottles, feathers, waves, crossfire, etc.
Filigree: A term applied to the decoration on mirror frames of the type designed by the brothers Adam. plaster or composition ornament was molded upon a network of wires.
Fillet: Small band, or fascia, used for separating molding; also a small cleat or ledge for supporting loose shelves.
Finial: Decorative terminal, placed vertically to accentuate a point or the ending of a structural feature, such as a post.
Flame: The carving of a finial resembling the flame of a torch.
Flitch: Part of a log that is sawed into veneers; the bundle of consecutive sheets of veneers when cut.
Flush: Any surface level with an adjacent surface.
Flutes: Hollows cut perpendicularly in columns, pilasters, legs, friezes, aprons, etc. Good flutes are close together and deep, with a sharply scooped curve for the ending. The ridge between the flutes is a fillet.
Footboard: Panel in the lower end of a bed, or the entire end.
French Polish: Process of finishing with a high gloss by applying successive films of shellac in spirits.
French Provincial: Rustic interpretations of court style produced in various provinces of France (1625-1800), the furniture of each region bearing its own characteristic stamp.
Fret: Interlaced ornamental work, either perforated or cut in low relief on a solid ground, usually in geometric patterns; also the tracery of glazed doors and windows. Particularly characteristic of Chippendale's Chinese manner, it was also adapted to his Gothic designs.
Frieze: The plain or decorated section under the cornice mold.
Fruitwood: The woods of the various fruit trees have always been used for small furniture, especially in provincial work. These woods are usually hard and durable, and polish well. Pear, apple, and cherry are the most used woods of this class.
