Guide to Furniture Styles from Connected Lines

The Victorian style draws its influence from gothic forms with heavy proportions, dark finish, elaborate carving, and ornamentation. It is named for Queen Victoria of England who reigned from 1837-1901 and was the first furniture style of mass production.

Appearance

Formal - Elaborately detailed, somber appearance.

(Victorian style shown)

Chair Arms

Curved - Arms curved outward.

Chair Back Material

	Upholstered - Cushioned and fabric covered.
	Wood - Solid wood, horizontal slats, vertical slats, or vertical splats.

Chair Back Shape

Balloon - Balloon-shaped chair back, rounded at the top and tapering to the seat.

Chair Leg

	Elaborate turning - Turned leg with multiple types of turnings.
	Restrained Cabriole - Cabriole leg with a rather straight shape.
	Round - Round, usually shaped or turned leg.

Chair Seat Material

Upholstered - Cushioned and covered with fabric.

Chair Seat Shape

	Curved - Circular or rounded seat.
	Horseshoe - Horseshoe shaped seat with a rounded front.
	Horseshoe Arch with Serpentine Front - Horseshoe shaped seat with a serpentine front.
	Square - Square shaped seat.

Drawer Pull

	Carved Wood (Ornate) - Carved wood handle, often in the shape of fruit or leaves. The size varies from 4 to 7 inches wide.
	Glass Knob - Mushroom-shaped or round glass knob, often clear or iridescent.
	Rosette - Round 2-inch knob in the shape of a flower, usually in brass or glass.
	Wooden Mushroom-Shaped Knob - Mushroom-shaped wooden knob, often 1 inch high and 1.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter.

Fabric

	Braid - Woven strips of cloth.
	Hair Cloth - Stiff, open weave fabric made from animal hair, often camel or horse hair.
	Needlepoint - A type of counted thread embroidery in which yarn is stitched through an open canvas weave.
	Plush - Fabric with a deep pile, often velvet.
	Tapestry - Heavy weight fabric with decorative designs.
	Velour - Cloth with a short thick pile, usually made from mercerized cotton, silk, or mohair.
	Velvet - Woven pile fabric that is soft and sturdy, often made of silk with blends of cotton, nylon, and rayon.

Finish

	Gilding - Gold leaf.
	Oil Varnish - Clear finish that emphasized the grain of the wood.

Foot

	Ball and Claw - Carved claw grasping a ball.
	Continuation of leg - Leg does not terminate into a foot.
	Whorl - Small round foot with a coiled appearance.

Hardware Material

	Glass - Transparent to translucent.
	Wood - Various types of wood, carved or turned.

Joint

Dovetail - An interlocking wood joint in which a series of wedge-shaped projections fits into a series of alternating grooves.

Line

	Cyma or S-Curve - S-shaped curve, partly concave and partly convex.
	Straight - Straight lines.

Motif

	Foliage - Leaves or vines.
	Scroll - Form resembling a roll of parchment paper.

Ornamentation

	Carving - Cutting or chipping the surface of wood to create a shape or design.
	Fretwork - Decorative carving or openwork with interlacing lines.
	Inlay - Contrasting material set into the surface of wood to create a shape or design.
	Spindle - Turned pieces split vertically, often affixed to the front of case furniture.

Proportion

Heavy - Sturdy, thick dimensions.

(Chippendale style shown)

Underbracing

Moderate - Moderately proportioned stretchers.

(William and Mary style shown)

Wood

	Ash - Whitish-gray American hardwood with similar graining to oak.
	Black Walnut - Dark brown American hardwood with a wide range of figures.
	Butternut - Medium brown American hardwood, often stained to resemble black walnut.
	Maple - Golden to Red-brown American hardwood with a wide range of figures.
	Oak - Gray-brown American hardwood.
	Rosewood Veneer - Purple-brown South American hardwood with black streaks that can be highly polished.

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