Glossary of Terms,
Antique Furniture
D
Dado:
A square groove cut with or across the grain of the wood.
Damask:
A flat-woven reversible upholstery fabric in a figured pattern on silk, linen,
wool, cotton, nylon, or combinations.
Davenport:
Small writing desk. In current American use, an upholstered sofa.
Daybed:
Uni-level couch with low head and foot boards, used lengthwise against the wall;
for resting in the daytime.
Deal:
English term for pine, particularly the Scotch pine.
Dentils:
Molding or inlay pattern made up of regularly-spaced rectangles, resembling
teeth.
Diamond-Matched Veneer:
Straight-grained woods cut diagonally and put together in quarters so as to
produce a diamond pattern.
Directoire:
Period ( 1792-1804) following the French Revolution when royal decoration was
replaced by classic ornament. Furniture which showed Greek and Roman influence
was simple and graceful.
Divan:
upholstered couch without arms or back, originating in Turkish form of piling
rugs for reclining.
Document Drawer:
In desk cabinets, the small vertical drawers, usually found one on each side of
the central compartment in the interior or writing section. Often ornamented
with carved colonnettes, etc.
Doric:
The second order of Classic architecture, also one of the plainest, the capital
having little carving.
Double Dresser:
Low chest with two tiers of drawers, usually three in each.
Dough Box, Dough Tray:
Early American cabinet with lid, mounted on four high legs. Originally used in
breadmaking;
now as storage or toy chest.
Dovetail:
Method of joining boards at right angles by interlocking wedge-shaped tenons and
mortises. Generally used in drawer construction. Also, a butterfly-shaped inset
used to join boards lengthwise in table tops and floors.
Drake Foot:
A three-toed foot found on Queen Anne furniture.
Dresser:
Derivative of the French term, dressoir. Originally a table used to dress meats.
Evolved into cupboard for utensils and dishes. In United States term applies to
chest of drawers with mirror.
Dressing Glass:
Wood-framed tilting mirror mounted atop a miniature chest with one or two tiers
of tiny drawers. Originally used as a shaving mirror.
Drop Front:
Hinged desk which falls forward to form a writing surface.
Drop Leaf:
Table with hinged leaf or leaves which, when raised, extends top surface.
Drum Table:
Round library table with a deep apron, sometimes with drawers.
Dry Sink:
Low Early American two-door cupboard with zinc or copper-lined open sink top,
behind which rises a background. The forerunner of today's kitchen sink, it's
currently used as a bar or a planter.
Dust Proofing:
Thin panel used between to exclude dust.
Dutch Cupboard:
Large cabinet or buffet with open shelves above for displaying plates, etc.
