Atlantes Or Atlantides Or Telamones

Statues of men employed as supports in lieu of columns or pilasters. - See Caryatides. Statues of women used similarly are called Caryatides.

Aubusson

A famous French tapestry which takes its designation from the town of that name. The industry was established there at a very early date, but the first documentary mention of it is in 1507. Aubusson still makes coverings for furniture, carpets, floor rugs, etc. This tapestry was long famous for its figure work.

Aumbry

See Ambry.

Back

The back of a piece of furniture is usually finished off in a comparatively rough state, except in the case of important pieces intended to stand away from the walls of a room. The back of a chair is a subject of great interest in the study of furniture. See Chair-Back.

Back-Stool

An upholstered chair without arms.

Bacon Cupboard

A cupboard for holding bacon, sometimes forming the back of a settle and frequently found in farmhouses at the end of the seventeenth century. The simpler types of these cupboards usually open at the back, but sometimes their folding leaves open at the front. There is often a drawer under the seat. The later types possess some amount of ornament.

Bahut

The name given in the Middle Ages to large chests with feet in which were kept tapestries, cushions, small coffers and such-like domestic articles when not in use.

Bail-Handles

The name generally refers to the brass drop handles introduced in the reign of William and Mary, in oblong form, either rectangular or curved, depending from knobs on the back plates or rosettes fixed on drawers, etc. Iron handles in this form, of simple workmanship, have been made from time immemorial.

Ball And Claw-Foot

See Claw and Ball-Foot.

Ball Foot

A turned foot of spherical or nearly spherical form. The ball is also found in the Claw and Ball foot, in which case it is supposed to represent a jewel.

Balloon

A term sometimes applied to the hoop-back form of chair-back of the Hepplewhite period, in which the uprights start from the seat-rails in concave form, and then sweep over in a bold convex curve to meet each other.

Baluster

A rectangular carved or turned column used to support a rail and forming part of a balustrade. Balusters are sometimes used as stretchers in the backs of chairs, livery cupboards, etc. Split balusters were a very favourite form of applied ornament in Restoration furniture.

Balustrade

A row of balusters on a base, topped by a rail, serving as an ornamental enclosure to balconies, roofs of buildings, etc. It is much used as an ornament on cabinets, and other articles of furniture, especially on the kind termed Architects' Furniture.

Banding

A broad band of coloured inlay contrasting with the surrounding surface. A narrow band is called a stringing or lining.

Bandy Leg

See Cabriole Leg.

Banister-Back

The name given to a chair-back formed of vertical banisters, square or round, plain or ornamented, rising from the seat to the top rail. This form was common in the Hepplewhite period. See Bar-Back.