Glossary of Terms,
Antique Furniture
P
Pad Foot:
A foot found on Queen Anne furniture, having a disk resembling a pad under the
foot proper.
Palmette:
Conventional presentation of a palm leaf in ornament.
Parquetry:
Wood veneering inlaid in geometric patterns, in which respect it differs from
marquetry, which is more pictorial in design.
Patina:
Color and texture of the surface produced by age and wear. In wood furniture the
varnish, shellac, or oil has a tendency to deepen ,yet retains transparency;
edges wear smooth and sharp outlines are softened.
Pedestal:
A tall, narrow, floor-standing column designed to hold art objects.
Pediment:
The triangle-shaped top of a classic building. It is a motif adapted for the
tops of important cabinets and secretaries. The bonnet top is also spoken of as
a pediment, it being a variant of this type of superstructure.
Peg:
A wooden nail used to hold furniture parts together;
sometimes exposed to create decorative interest in Early American pieces.
Pembroke Table:
Small rectangular drop-leaf with drawer, the leaves supported by brackets in the
frame. Earliest recorded, made by Chippendale about 1771;
named after the Earl of Pembroke.
Pendant:
A hanging ornament.
Pennsylvania:
Corrupted form of "Deutsch" or German;
Rural style furniture made by German, Swiss, and some Swedish peasants in
eastern Pennsylvania, 1680-1850. Turnings, gouge carving, and brightly painted
motifs.
Pickled Finishes:
Cloudy white patina over light wood, originally produced by the removal with
vinegar of the plaster base of the painted wood.
Pie crust Table:
Small table, usually round with edge carved or molded in scallops outline. Pier
Glass : A tall narrow mirror, hung between two windows or in a narrow space,
usually over a table of console type.
