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.

Bergère

A Bergère chair is a type of upholstered armchair originated from French designs in 1725. This was the first type of chair to focus on comfort and relaxation. These chairs have long and wide seats with a thick cushion. Early models were caned, later ones were upholstered.

Birch

A popular hardwood for furniture and cabinet making. It is light brown to tan in color, has a close, straight grain, and is known for its strength, as well as its flexibility. It can be laminated into a highly flexible, yet strong, plywood.

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.