Please
browse our glossary below by clicking on any letter of the
alphabet
to
learn about the different styles and periods of the pieces
that we carry and specialize in. |
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Alabaster
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A
fine-grained stone that is usually gray or white in color
and is slightly translucent. Often used in sculptures and
vases.
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Antique
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According
to United States Customs an antique is a work of art, piece
of furniture, or any decorative object that is at least one
hundred years old.
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Armoire |
A
tall cabinet that is used as a wardrobe.
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Art
Deco |
Popular
design style during the 1920’s and 1930’s characterized
by simple geometric patterns.
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Art
Nouveau |
French
word meaning “new art”. A design style of the late
19th century that was inspired by plant and animal forms in
nature.
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Aubusson |
A
woven tapestry manufactured in Aubusson, France. Aubusson
fabrics are of high quality, and are of great value.
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Baccarat |
The
Baccarat firm was started in 1764. In 1841 Francois-Eugene
de Fontenay discovered that the addition of Nickel Oxide in
the glass manufacturing process produced perfectly clear glass.
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Bergere |
An
armchair that is either caned or upholstered from the arm
to the seat.
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Beurdeley,
Alfred |
(1847-1919)
His company was known for producing the finest quality of
furniture. Beurdeley exhibited at the 1878 Paris and 1883
Amsterdam International Exhibitions. He was awarded the gold
medal at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1889.
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Bevel |
The
angle or edge that one surface makes with another when they
are cut at a slant.
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Biscuit |
Also
referred as bisque, is pottery or porcelain that has been
fired once and is unglazed.
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Blackamoor |
Dark-skinned
figure dressed in a colorful costume. First created in Venice
these figures were carved and used as a support for tables
and candleholders (torchieres).
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Boulle,
Andre Charles |
Late
17th/ Early 18th century cabinet maker who introduced the
technique of using tortoiseshell and yellow or white metal
as a type of marquery in furniture.
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Candelabra |
A
branched candlestick, or lamp with several lights.
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Cardossi,
V.
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Born
in Florence in 1861, Vittorio Caradossi is known for his sculptures
in marble. He exhibited in Paris at the 1900 Exposition Universelle
and in 1909 at the Salon des Artistes.
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Carpeaux,
Jean-Baptiste |
(1827-1875)
Considered one of the greatest masters of 19th century French
sculpture. He is best known for three masterpieces; La Danse
from the Opera of Paris, the decoration on the Flore pavillion
at the Louvre, and La Fontaine des quatre parties du monde
on the Avenue of the Observatory.
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Carrier-Belleusse,
Albert Ernest |
(1824-1887)
His works were made out of terra cotta, plaster, marble and
bronze, often adding porcelain and ivory. Known for his quality
of work making busts, small groups, statuettes, and portraits
of contemporary or historical people.
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Cartel
Clock |
Also
referred to as a hanging wall clock.
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Cheval
Mirror |
A
full length standing mirror.
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Chenets |
Ornamental
pieces placed in front of a fireplace.
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Chinoiserie |
French
word that indicates a style of art or decoration reflecting
oriental designs or motifs.
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Chippendale,
Thomas |
Renowned
18th century English cabinet maker. Gothic, Chinese and
French rococo styles influenced his work.
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Cloisonné |
Style
and technique used to apply enamel on metal objects.
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Commode |
French
term to describe a low chest of draws. Since 19th century
a commode is generally considered a bedroom piece.
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Console |
A
table that can be attached to a wall having two front legs
or may be free standing against the wall.
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Coramandel |
A
very hard wood found on the south east coast of India. The
French often carved decorative oriental scenes into this wood.
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Cressent,
Charles |
(1685-1768)
18th century cabinet maker who is best known for the bronze
sculpture decorations he added to his pieces of furniture.
Cressent is also considered "The Cabinet Maker"
whose work is most representative of the Regence style.
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Dasson,
Henry |
(1825-1896)
Important furniture maker using the very finest ormolu mounts
with high quality mercurial gilding. Specialized in copies
of eighteenth century models, manly in the Louis XVI style.
Exhibited Louis XV, XVI pieces of his own modified eighteenth
century design at the 1878 Paris Exhibition. Dasson closed
down his business in 1894.
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Debut,
Marcel |
(1865-1933)
Began exhibiting Bronze and Biscuit figures in1883.
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Durand |
Made
'ebeniste du roi' in 1839 and exhibited at
Industrial Products Exhibitions in 1834,1839, and 1844, as
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Ebeniste |
French
term meaning “cabinet maker”.
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Empire
Style |
A
style first introduced during the reign of Napoleon in the
early 19th century and greatly influenced by Egyptian Art.
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Enamel |
A
colored glaze of decorate metal inlayed to a ceramic surface.
Enamel fuses with porcelain under a low fire and as it cools
becomes hard and permanent .
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Erard |
Considered
one of France’s finest piano works company.
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Gesso |
A
paste prepared with glue (Plaster of Pairs) , spread upon
a surface to fit it for painting or gilding.
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Gilt
Bronze |
A
thin layer of gold applied on bronze.
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Giltwood |
A
thin layer of gold leaf or gold foil applied on wood.
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Griotte
Uni
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A
predominantly red colored marble that was found in Pyrenees,
France.
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Inlay |
A
technique used with furniture and ceramics when part of a
surface is removed and replaced with a contrasting material.
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Kingwood |
Fine
quality of wood found in Brazil that is used in furniture
because of its beautiful violet color markings.
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Leroux,
Gaston |
(1854-1942)
Exhibited at the Nationale des Beaux-Arts in 1892.
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Linke,
Francois |
Francois
Linke was born in Pankraz in Bohemia and was celebrated by
the French as one of the greatest ébénistes
of meubles de style at the turn of the century. He began his
apprenticeship with a Bohemian master at the age of thirteen.
Four years later, he toured Austria, settling and working
in Vienna for two years. By 1875 he had arrived in Paris,
where he seems to have been associated with Zwiener. By 1881,
Linke established his own small workshop at 170 rue du Faubourg
St. Antoine. Taking 18th century styles as his starting point
and adapting earlier styles to contemporary taste, Linke produced
fine quality furniture, steadily expanding his business during
the next 20 years. He firmly established his reputation after
receiving a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition of
1900 for his extraordinary Grand Bureau. He continued to use
international fairs as a means of exploring new markets, exhibiting
at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, the Liege in Belgium
and the 1908 Franco-British exhibition in London. Linke's
highly original designs sprang from the Régence and
Rococo styles but were imbued with something quite new - Rococo
curves were laden with gilt-bronze sculptural mounts in the
tradition of A.-C. Boulle (1642-1732) or Charles Cressent
(1685-1758). Stylistically, the new designs still adhered
to the Rococo; the novelty, however, was Linke's fusion of
the Rococo with the liveliness and the fluidity of the 'art
nouveau'. The Revue called Linke's creations entierement nouveau,
and continued to say that 'Linke's stand is the biggest show
in the history of art furniture in the year 1900...' The mounts,
or rather sculpture, were characteristic of the finest pieces
from the Linke workshops. The most original designs were almost
certainly created in collaboration with the enigmatic sculptor
Léon Messagé, who excelled in creating lively,
high relief, allegorical figures recalling the styles of Boucher
and Falconet. Linke's greatest successes were achieved during
the years after 1900 and up to the beginning of World War
I. He opened a showroom in the fashionable Place Vendôme
and business flourished until World War II, although the popularity
of the ancien régime styles already started to decline.
Linke died at the venerable age of 91.
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Louis
XV Style |
(1715-1774)
Style of furniture and objects of art characteristic during
the reign of French King Louis XV. The style is easily recognized
by the carved cabriole legs used to support furniture. This
style was essentially Rococo with soft curing lines, shell
and flower ornamentation.
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Louis
XVI Style |
(1774-1793)
Style of furniture and objects of art characteristic during
the reign of French King Louis XVI.
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Majolica |
Italian
19th century earthenware modeled in naturalistic shapes and
glazed in lively lead colors.
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Marquetry |
The
term used to describe the decorative work in which a pattern
or patterns are formed by inserting contrasting material in
a veneered surface.
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Meissen |
Considered
the finest porcelain made in Germany. The factory in the small
town of Meissen has been producing ornamental and tableware
ceramics since 1715.
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Millet,
Maison
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Founded
in 1853 by T. Millet and continued doing business until 1918.
Known for their fine quality copies of 18th century models.
Awarded a gold medal in the 1889 Exposition .
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Moreau,
H. |
Hippolyte
Francois Moreau (1832-1927). First exhibited his works in
1859. The best of his works were of young woman and charming
full figures of children.
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Onyx |
A
translucent quartz with a wax like luster.
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Ormolu |
French
term refers to gilded bronze used for decorative purposes.
Terms such as gilt-bronze and dore bronze may be substituted.
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Parlor
Set |
Also
referred as Salon Set. Term to describe a settee with matching
chairs used primarily in a living room, den, or library.
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Parquetry |
Inlay
of wood in a geometric pattern or design.
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Picault,
E. |
Emile
Louis Picault (1833-1915) His works began appearing in shops
in 1863. Many of his sculptures were of warriors, figures
exalting patriotic virtue, allegories, and some historical
and mythological personages.
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Plafonier |
French term to describe a lighting fixture that attaches directly
to a
ceiling.
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Porcelain |
A
hard, fine grained nonporous translucent white ceramic ware
of kaolin,quartz and feldspar that is fired at high temperatures.
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Raulin,
Victor |
Raulin
exhibited and received silver medals at both the 1878 and
1889 Expositions Universelles He is particularly well known
for his furniture in the eighteenth century style and the
use of lacquer panels.
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Regence |
French
Regence is a transitional style between Louis XIV and Louis
XV style. This style is characterized by a cabriole leg and
massive mounts.
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Richer,
Paul |
(1849-1933)
Life size bronze sculpture “Le Premier Artiste”
is found in the Jardin des Plantes, and a stone statue of
Doctor Vulpian is located on the Rue Antoine-Dubois in Paris.
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Riesener,
Jean Henri
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(1734-1806)
Best known for the 'Bureau du Roi' 1769. His clients included
Mme de Pompadour, and in 1774 he became 'ebeniste du roi'.
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Rococo |
Relating
to a style of the mid 18th century that was characterized
by asymmetric curves and heavy carved ornamentation.
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Schmidt,
Fredrick |
Although
not as well known as some other nineteenth century furniture
makers, he produced pieces of furniture of outstanding quality
and design. Schimdt received gold medals at both the 1878
and 1889 Paris Expositions Universelles.
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Sconce |
A
lighting fixture with a one or more branches that is attached
to a wall.
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Sevre
Porcelain |
The
first factory opened in the town of Sevre in 1756. During
the 19th century, due to the popularity of the Sevre Porcelain,
many other factories throughout France began making 'Sevre
Style' porcelain.
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Sormani,
Paul |
Paul
Sormani and his company exhibited in many exhibitions during
1849,1855,1862,1867 and 1878. He received an award at the
1867 Exhibition Universelle in Paris. A large amount of the
firm’s production was in copying Louis XV and Louis XVI
furniture. The wife of Napoleon III decorated her palaces
with his most important pieces. In 1867 the firm moved to
10 rue Charlot where it satyed until 1934. Most signed pieces
are from this address.
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Steinway |
Most
renowned and respected piano works company.
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Tapestry |
Heavy,
hand-woven textile in which designs are printed.
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Tortoiseshell |
Pieces
of the shell of a Hawksbill sea turtle used for furniture
inlays.
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Vernis
Martin Style |
In
the early 18th century, brothers obtained patent for French
imitation of oriental lacquer in furniture. Term denotes pictorial
lacquer applied in numerous successive coats on pieces of
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Vitrine |
A
glass showcase used to display a collection of fine small
objects of art.
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Zwiener,
Joseph |
Born
in Herdon, Germany, in 1849, Joseph Emmanuel Zwiener followed
the tradition of some of the best ébnistes of the nineteenth
century. He moved to Paris establishing a workshop at 12,
rue de la Roquette, between 1880 and 1895. He produced a wide
array of the very finest furniture, modelling in his own interpretations
of the eighteenth century Louis XV Rococo style, veneered
with the highest and finest quality marquetry and 'Vernis
Martin' panels. Exhibiting at the Exposition Universelle,
Paris, in 1889, Zwiener was awarded a gold medal for what
the jury reported as 'dè ses dèbuts à
une Exposition Universelle, [il] s'est mi au premier rang
par la richesse, la hardinesse, et le fini de ses meubles
incrustés de bronze et fort habilment marquetés.'
A Group of furniture by Zwiener commissioned by Freidrich
Wilhelm II of Prussia and exhibited at the Exposition Universelle,
Paris in 1900, was sold at Sotheby's New York June 29th, 1989,
lot 270-275.
Zwiener was closely associated with François Linke,
and the two houses produced work which, at first glance, is
remarkably similar and with occasionally identical mounts.
The similarities are made more likely by the fact that the
brilliant sculptor, Léon Messagé, worked initially
for Zwiener and subsequently, upon Zwiener's departure for
Berlin to work on furniture commissioned by Freidrich Wilhelm
II , he was employed in the workshop of François Linke.
It appears that Zwiener, unlike Linke, did not sign all his
work, although some stamped pieces with his name and/or his
"Z" initial are documented. There is some uncertainty
between the recorded stamp E. Zwiener and the work of a Julius
Zwiener, a Berlin cabinetmaker who made furniture in a very
similar style, most notably for the above mentioned Freidrich
Wilhelm II. Research suggests however, that the German born
Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener, based in Paris from 1880-1895 and
Julius Zwiener, recorded in Berlin after 1895, are probably
one and the same. Since the eighteenth century, it had been
a common practice for foreign cabinetmakers to gallicise their
names whenever they worked in France.
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