Biedermeier

A style of furniture produced in Austria and Germany during the first half of the 19th century. Inspired by French Empire and German painted peasant work. The name was borrowed from an imaginary cartoon character called Papa Biedermeier, an uneducated country gentlemen who considered himself a connoisseur of fine and industrial arts. Simple marquetry patterns were used with pressed brass ornaments of Greek inspiration as well as painted motifs of wreaths, urns, and floral, animal and human forms. Woods used were mainly fruitwoods, maple, mahogany and birch.

Pedestal

A tall, narrow base which supports a statue, lamp, vase or any decorative object. Usually treated with moldings at the top and a base block on the bottom. Without moldings it is called a plinth.

Burl

Burl is a type of wood that comes from an irregular growth on a tree. Burl wood is usually cut in a thin veneer form to show its exquisite detail. Burl wood is most common in walnut, elm and yew. Burl wood has been used to decorate furniture for centuries and was highly popular during the Biedermeier period.

Maple

A hardwood used for furniture-making and flooring, characterized by a close, light brown grain. Its grain pattern can vary based on variety. Though often straight, it can sometimes include small knots (in the case of birdseye maple) or flame shapes. Some varieties of maple are used to craft fine wooden instruments such as violins and cellos.

Veneer

A wood finishing technique in which thin sheet of fine wood is applied to a the surface of a coarser wood or other structural material for decoration. Veneer is used to give furniture pieces a finer, more pleasing appearance. It was first used in ancient Egypt, classical Greece, and Rome, but did not appear again until the 17th Century in the Netherlands.