|
Definitions terms of antiques or collectables, some are quite common and some
not so common.
Definitions are from various sources.
A-B
C-D
E-F
G-J
K-P Q-Z
- Quatrefoil:
-
A stylized decoration with four lobes or leaves
- Quillwork:
-
Designs made by scrolled paper filigree, usually with gilt
edges and incorporating other ornamental materials.
- Raising:
-
A process of making a hollow ware by hammering a flat
metal sheet on a series of anvils.
- Rat-Tail:
-
An ornamental reinforcement, resembling a tail, on the
underside of the bowl of a spoon.
- Rat-Tail Hinge:
-
A type of hinge with a tapered, curved extension
running downward, usually with a cutout decoration at the end.
- Reeding:
-
Parallel, semicircular molding which protrudes
from the surface.
- Relief:
-
Decoration that is above the surface.
- Repousse:
-
Designs in metal that are raised by hammering
from the back.
- Ribband Back:
-
A type of chair back of the Chippendale
period characterized by a series of horizontal, interlaced
elements connecting the stiles.
- Rococo:
-
A style of art and decoration developed in
the 18th century France, characterized by designs
curvilinear in form and imitative of shell worked, scrolls
and foliage asymmetrically arranged.
- Runcible Spoon:
-
A fork with two broad tines and one with
a curved, sharp edge. Also known as a Ice Cream fork.
- Rustication:
-
Ornamentally roughened surfaces and
recessed joints in stone work.
- Saddle Seat:
-
A wooden chair seat shaped like a
saddle, common to Windsor chairs.
- Salt Glaze:/dt>
-
A hard, rough, transparent glaze
produced by introducing rock salt to the kiln during
the firing of earthenware or stoneware.
- Salver:
-
A silver tray form without
handles, often on feet.
- Sand Cast:
-
to make an object by pouring metal
into a mold formed in sand.
- Sconce:
-
A wall bracket fitted with one or
more candlesticks.
- Scottish Pebble Jewelry:
-
Popular in 19th century which is
made of native agate, most often silver.
- Scroll:
-
A spiral or rolled decoration.
-
A pediment formed by
interrupting confronting cyma curves; also
called a broken-scroll.
- Sgraffito:
-
The design on pottery made
by cutting through the outer glaze to expose
the color of the base clay.
- Slipper Chair:
-
A high-back chair with
short legs, usually upholstered, and
without arms.
- Slipper Foot:
-
A slim elongated,
pointed foot on furniture legs.
- Sheffield Plate:
-
this sheets of silver
fused over copper, dating from the mid
19th century
- Snake Foot:
-
A foot shaped like a
head of snake on furniture legs.
- Spanish Foot:
-
A scroll foot with
vertical ribs following the curve of
the scroll, usually found on
furniture in the William and Mary
period.
- Spelter:
-
an inexpensive alloy of
zinc, lead, and tin that is silver or
blue-white in color.
- Splat:
-
The upright, center support
in a chair.
- Spoon Back:
-
Chair back curved to
accommodate the contours of a human back.
- Squab:
-
A removable cushion for
a seat.
- S-Scroll
-
A
scroll in the form of the letter S.
Also called a Flemish Scroll.
- Sterling:
-
established standard
by English law. Customarily
indicated by a stamping on silver
articles. Indicates the relative
purity of the item. contains no less
tan 925 parts silver in 1,000 parts
of metal.
- Stoneware:
-
A form of hard,
nonporous pottery made of clay
fired at a high temperatures;
often salt glazed.
- Strapwork:
-
Decorative, flat
interlaced bands applied or
carved on a surface.
- Stump Leg:
-
A plain,
square rear leg with a slight
backward curve.
- Sunflower:
-
Floral motif
found on a early chests
carved in Connecticut.
- Tall Case Clock:
-
A clock
incorporated within a
tall, standing case to
protect the works and
accommodate the pendulum.
May also be called a long
case clock or grandfather
clock.
- Tankard:
-
A large
drinking vessel with
handle and hinged lid.
- Tavern Table:
-
A
rectangular low table,
used in public meeting
houses, with a sturdy
framework and turned
legs and stretchers.
- Tester:
-
The
canopy of a high-post
bed, made of wood or
fabric.
- Tinplate:
-
Thin
sheets of steel
coated with tin,
commonly used for
toys and household
articles.
- Tintype:
-
A
photo on a tin
backing.
- Tole:
-
Painted tin ware.
- Touchstone:
-
A
stone used to test
the purity of gold
and silver by the
mark left on it
when rubbed by the
metal.
- Tourbillon:
-
A watch movement
in the which the
escapement is
mounted on a
revolving
carriage
invented in
1801.
- Town Mark:
-
A hallmark
representing the
town of origin
of a piece of
silver.
- Trammel:
-
A pothook,
adjusted by
ratchets, to be
hung from a
crane in a
fireplace; also
a similar device
for raising and
lowering lamps.
- Treen:
-
Small objects
made of wood.
- Trefoil:
-
A stylized
decoration
with three
lobes or
leaves.
- Trifid Foot:
-
A
three-toed
foot;
sometimes
known as a
drake
foot.
- Trundle Bed:
-
A low,
rolling
bed,
usually
for a
child,
designed
to fit
under a
large
bed;
also
called a
truckle
bed.
- Tureen:
-
A
large,
covered,
footed
bowl,
usually
with
handles,
not
very
deep
vessel,
about
6"
inches
across,
a
large
opening,
and
generally
severed
soups
or
broth.
- Turkey Work:
-
A type
of
needlework
imitative
of the
pile
carpets
imported
from
the
East
in the
17th
century.
- Valance:
-
The
drapery
hanging
across
the
top
of a
window
or
at
the
edges
of a
bed
or
table.
- Veneer:
-
Thin
layers
of
wood
or
other
materials
glued
to
a
solid
ground.
- Yamato-e
-
-
Yamato meaning Japanese and E stands for painting
- Wag on the wall:
-
An early wall clock in which a short pendulum hung freely without a covering.
- Whatnot:
-
A mobile stand with multiple open shelves for holding ornamental objects.
|