K words

Kabistan Rugs: Caucasian, of fine weave, making use of the Ghiordiz knot; the wool pile is soft and silky. Designs are usually geometrical, cones, stars the basic colors being blue and red supported by green, brown and ivory.

Kaklemon: A style of decoration that derives from Japanese porcelain-vigorous designs of animals and flowers in bright colors with the asymmetry particular to Japanese art. The name comes from a Japanese family of potters who worked at Arita Kandler.

Kaolin: China clay. (See Porcelain.)

Karaja Rugs: Persian, of very fine weave, Senna knot, thick, short wool pile. Curved medallions are the usual main design, the floral borders being in red, brown and dark blue with supporting colors.

Kazak Rugs: Caucasian, of coarse weave, Ghiordiz knot coarse weave pile. Characteristic are the brilliant colors red, green and yellow, supported by blue. The border may have from three to four strips.

Come in and see the large selection today.

J words

Jackfield: The term applies to black- glazed red earthenware, some of which was made at the Jacob Georges (1739-1814): French cabinet-maker whose chairs are particularly esteemed. He did a lot of work for the crown.

Japanning (Metal): To cover with a hard black varnish.

Japanning (Wood): Lacquered or japanned furniture from the Orient. The best came from Japan.

Jardinière (French): A pot or container for flowers.

Jasper Ware: Fine stoneware made by Wedgewood. The body was slightly translucent and Wedgewood was able to stain in throughout, first with blue and then with the shades of green and then came other colors, notably black. Cameos, medallions and plaques were the main products.

Joiner: A maker of furniture before the days of the cabinetmaker (who came into his own at the end of the seventeenth century). Originally known as an Arkwright, there is a reference to ‘the joiners’ of the City of London’ as early as the 1400. The joiner did in fact join pieces of wood together by means of mortise and tenon, dowels or wood pins, whereas the cabinetmaker was to bring with him a new technique which involved the use of different joins and metal fasteners such as nails, screws and also glue.

I will be honest there are a lot of “C” words. Unfortunately, I do not have “D or E” so we are moving on to “F”. I am giving you a list of new “F” words to use.

Faience: Pale red earthenware covered with a tin glaze. The term dates from the beginning of the seventeenth century and is thought to derive rather from the Italian town of Faenza than from the French Fayence.

Fan Back: Windsor chair back, flared like a fan.

Fauteuil: French term for an arm-chair; but when used precisely, an arm-chair whose sides are not upholstered. (who knew)

Fender: The wide hearth made fenders unnecessary till the late seventeenth century, but in the eighteenth century steel fenders. shaped, pierced and engraved, became common.

Festoon: a garland of flowers, leaves, fruit, etc., loosely suspended between two points- hence a representation of similar ornaments in carving, stucco and painting.

Finger Vase: Vase consisting of five flower holders arranged as are the fingers of a hand. Made at Delft and other ceramics centers. (weird)

Flagon: Formerly a bottle to hold liquor; later a tall drinking vessel with a handle and usually a lid, forerunner of the tankard.

Frieze: Member of an entablature coming between architrave and cornice. (?)

We are still in the “C’s”. I am learning a lot as I write this. I hope you are too.

Canteen: A small wooden case divided into compartments for carrying bottles. Also: a cutlery case for the traveler. (not what I learned it was)

Canterbury: Muse rack of several vertical divisions, with drawer(s) or shelf beneath. Also: supper tray with partitions for cutlery and plate.

Capitol: The head (or top) of a column or pilaster.

Capo-di-Monte: a factory for making porcelain set up in 1743 at Capo-di-Monte bear Naples, by Charles, King of Naples.

Carcase: the main structure of a piece of furniture on which veneer is applied. (once again this is not what I learned it was)

Carlton House Table: D-shaped writing-table, the back semicircular, the straight front containing drawers, the top built t the back with further drawers and sometimes surmounted by a gallery.

Carrara Ware: The Wedgewood equivalent of Parian ware(q.v); name derives from the white marble of Tuscany.

Cartouche: Orginally a roll or case of paper, but also applies to an ornament in the form of table representing a sheet of paper with the ends rolled or curled over. (interesting)

Carver Chair: A name given to a heavy, square type of American chair of turned oak, named after Governor Carver’s chair at the Pilgrim hall; Plymouth.

Cassone: Italian chest or coffer, an important piece of furniture in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

I was asked to have a word for ever day of the week. So here it is. We have started in the “C’s” as that is when I got the idea to do this. I will go back and find the New Century issues with the “A” & “B” words. Thank you for the interest.

June 11-CABOCHON: A precious stone which is polished but not cut or shaped into a regular figure.

June 12- CALLOT FIGURE: Dwarf figures, frequently grotesque, as made at several porcelain factories during the eighteenth century, particularly at Meissen and Vienna. The name derives from Jacques Callot (1593,1635), French artist and engraver.

June 13- CAMEO BACK: One undoubted Victorian contribution to the English chair: open oval back and cabriole legs: from 1840.

June 14- CAMEO GLASS: Glassware carved with relief decoration through one or more layers of contrasting colors.

June 15- CANAPE: French word for sofa. (who knew?)

June 16- CANDELABRUM: A standing branched support for more than one candle.

June 17- CANDLE BOX: Box, of oak usually, or some metal such as brass, pewter or even silver, for storing candles.

Candle Stand: A portable stand for supporting a light such as a candelabrum. Often in pairs.

This is a small sample, come in and see furniture, records and other garden stakes.

CABARET SET: Porcelain tea set, including a tray, for one or two persons.

Information brought to you by New Century Collector.