Gueridon (Fr. Round Table)

A small table, torchere or pedestal of slight construction, used as a stand for candelabra, flowers, or other light objects. It was first popular in England in the late Queen Anne period.

Guilloche

An ornamental pattern used in classical architecture, formed by a series of circles at regular intervals, surrounded by interlacing bands. The circles are sometimes of varying diameter, and filled with ornamental details, such as conventional flowers. It was always a favourite design for the decoration of furniture in the Renaissance style.

William Halfpenny

One of the less important architects and designers of furniture and decorative details of the eighteenth century and the author of several books on architecture, published between the years 1724 and 1755.

Hare-Wood Or Hair-Wood

A veneer of sycamore stained a greenish-grey colour, much favoured by cabinet-makers in the last half of the eighteenth century.

Harlequin Table

A name given to a dressing- and writing-table containing many conveniences not at once apparent, such as a looking-glass raised by a spring or counter-weight, hidden drawers or compartments, a range of pigeon-holes and small drawers or a "till" raised by complicated mechanism, etc. Thomas Shearer and Sheraton took considerable pains in devising these tables which were very popular towards the end of the eighteenth century.

Harmonica

A musical instrument first known in England in the seventeenth century. It consisted of a table containing twenty-four glasses of varying size, each giving the tone required, or glasses tuned by the different quantities of water contained in them. By rubbing a moistened finger upon the rims of the glasses very sweet musical and resonant tones were produced. Benjamin Franklin, in the eighteenth century, invented a variant in which glasses of varying sizes were mounted on a spindle, one within the other, and turned by a crank and so supported that their lower edges passed through water, thus avoiding the necessity of moistening the finger and making the instrument easier to manipulate.

Harmonium

A small reed-organ with one or two rows of keys and bellows worked by the feet. The sounds produced are similar to those of the organ. In its present form the harmonium dates from 1840, when it was introduced by Alexandre Debain of Paris.

Harp

The most ancient and decorative of all musical instruments. It is tall, stringed, almost triangular in shape, and stands upon a massive base provided with pedals. The strings are played upon by both hands. The harp is mentioned in Genesis iv. 21.

Harpsichord

A musical instrument of the piano type of much importance until the invention of the pianoforte early in the eighteenth century. As in the earlier spinet and virginal the strings, to produce the tone, were plucked by means of quills attached to levers instead of being struck as in the pianoforte.

Harrateen

A woven material used in the eighteenth century for curtains and other purposes.