Furniture Terms
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
Eames: Charles and Ray Eames were a mid-20th Century husband and
wife design team who together created many innovative designs for home furnishings
in plywood and other materials. They are best known for their chair designs
which are considered mid-century modern in style.
ebonized: wood that is stained black to resemble ebony.
egg and dart molding: a relief motif of ovals and the curved negative
space they create when lined in a row.
eight-way hand-tied: construction technique used in upholstery in
which individual seat springs are tied to the frame with twine running vertically,
horizontally and diagonally.
Elizabethan: historically, 1558 to 1603. Style that emerged during
the reign of Elizabeth I in England. Characterized by large scale, sever
forms, and heavy carvings.
Embossing: A process of altering the natural grain of the leather
by using etching, engraving or electortyped plates or rollers creating a
very unifor grain pattern. Embossing may be done to disguise defects or
to create exciting designs.
Empire style: historically, 1804 to 1815. Neoclassical style dictated
by the French Emperor Napoleon. Based on imperial forms from Greece, Rome,
and Egypt it was designed to draw parallels between Napoleon's realm and
the great ancient empires. Furniture was consciously majestic, made of rich
woods and metals, and decorated with emblems, including bees, crowns, laurel
leaves, mythological figures, and the letter N.
enclosed coil mattress: mattress with wire springs that are individually
wrapped in fabric and sewn to adjoining coils. This means that when you
roll over there is very little transfer of movement or bouncing.
end matching: the process of placing veneers end-to-end to create
a continuous pattern.
engineered wood: any variety of wood product that is made of wood
fibers, strands or veneers adhered together with a bonding agent (glue).
Particle board, medium density fiberboard (MDF), and wood laminates are
all engineered wood products.
English dovetail: wood furniture constriction technique consisting
of a series of stacked, tapered, interlocking wedges.
English Regency: Historically 1793-1830. Growing out of the late
Georgian period, English Regency style reflected the influences of Chinese
and Egyptian design. The style emphasized simplicity and functionality in
its lines with ornamentation relative to the more ornate styles of previous
eras.
entertainment armoire: an armoire fitted to house a TV, other electronic
and related entertainment media.
entertainment wall: a TV and media storage system that creates the
visual effect of built-in cabinetry with different combinations of storage
components.
escutcheon: decorative plate, commonly made of brass, surrounding
a keyhole on case goods.
etagere: tall shelves that are open on the sides and back.
Euro top: a variety of pillow top mattress with a box cushion construction.
