Antique: usually any object over 100 years old
Arctophile: teddy bear lover or collector
Armoire: a very large and highly decorated cupboard or wardrobe
Arts and Crafts Movement: a movement to improve the standards of late Victorian craftsmanship
Art Deco: the modernist style popular between the two world wars and characterised by geometric forms
Art Nouveau: introduced in the latter part of the 19th century and remaining popular until the start of the First World War, it was characterised by elaborate design and curving lines
Aubusson: French tapestries produced in the town of the same name
BADA: British Antique Dealers` Association
BAFRA: British Antique Furniture Restorers` Association
Baroque: a hugely flamboyant style of decorating furniture and other objects popular in the 17th and 18th centuries. Typical decorations used were cherubs, flowers, fruit, etc.
Biedermeyer: a classical style developed in Germany in the 1820s, particularly seen in furniture which is often made of blond coloured wood
BHI: British Horological Institute
Boulle work: a technique perfected by Andre Charles Boulle which used tortoiseshell and brass in marquetry decoration
Buyers Premium: a percentage added to the final bid price by an auctioneer and charged to the buyer - i.e. if you successfully bid ?100 for an item and the buyers premium is 15% you will pay ?115
Cabriole leg: popular in the 18th century, the design of a furniture leg based on a curved animal`s leg.
Chasing: a hammered decorative technique used on metal
Chatelaine: Chains, worn at the waist, made to carry keys, a watch, an etui, etc.
Chesterfield: a large button-backed sofa
Chiffonier: a cupboard below one large or two smaller drawers with low shelves above
Chinoiserie: European decoration based on Chinese motifs and style, popular in the 17th and 18th centuries
Chippendale (Thomas): An 18th century English furniture maker whose name became synonymous with fine furniture of the period.
Chryselephantine: a substance made from a combination of bronze and ivory used, predominantly, by Art Deco designers
Cloisonne: a decorative technique using metal strips to enclose coloured enamels
Coffer: now used for any chest with a lid on top, once used for a travelling trunk
Collectables: this word covers a multitude of objects but usually refers to items that are not antique but are expected to appreciate in value or are so interesting that people collect them
Commode: the French term for a chest of drawers
Console table: a side table usually attached to a wall
Creamware: Cream coloured earthenware pottery; Wedgwood perfected the form.
Cross-banding: thin strips of veneer, cut across the grain, used to decorate furniture
Daguerreotype: A type of photograph invented by Louis Daguerre in 1839.
Distressing: the process of inflicting minor damage (dents, scratches, stains) to simulate age on a new piece (see fake)
Ebonised: Stained black to imitate ivory
Ephemera: Generally collectable items not designed to last, especially paper collectables like postcards, photographs, posters, etc
Escritoire: A French writing desk
Etui: a small case for carrying sewing items, sometimes carried on a chatelaine (see above)
Faпence: French tin-glazed pottery
Fake: a piece made to deceive: it is usually a copy of an antique and then distressed to simulate age
Flatware: flat tableware such as plates
Flow blue: a type of blue and white pottery on which the blue pattern deliberately flows into the white background
Gadooning: A decorative border consisting of a series of curves
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