San Francisco Antiques - Urban Chateau - Our glossary of Antique Terminology

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| MAIN GLOSSARY | GLOSSARY OF wood |
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OAK
A strong, straight reliable timber with straight, raised grain. Until the end of the 17th Century was plentiful, perhaps the best of British woods used to form the carcass of antique furniture, also found in Europe and the Baltic, also used for ships, bridges, wagons, houses, and fences ? wherever strength is important. Needs to be seasoned for a long time.

ORDERS
Based on Greek and Roman architecture. There are three Greek orders, the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian, and five Roman orders, the Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Composite. The significance of the orders in furniture lies in the application of architectural forms to Designers.

OREILLE
In chairs, a projection extending forward from the top of the back to support the head with the appearance of ?ears?. In metalwork and ceramics, an added piece used as a handle.

ORMOLU
A finish used on metal to imitate gold, from the word moulo or ground gold. Also known as gilt bronze or bronze dore. Often used to refer to bronze furniture mounts, frames and furniture decoration enhanced with mercury gilding. The term originally applied to a coating of ground gold and was extended to alloys of copper and zinc. Ormolu mountings were characteristic of 18th-century furniture and attained their highest artistic and technical development in France, especially in the work of Charles Cressent, Pierre Gouthi?re, and Jacques Caffieri. Ormolu was produced on a large scale in England, with Matthew Boulton the chief manufacturer. Workmanship deteriorated in the 19th century.

OTTOCENTO PERIOD (1830-1855)
Period of Italian design in furnishings immediately following the Restoration period in France.

OYSTER VENEER
Small branches (usually from wood with some color contrast in cross-section) cut across the grain to produce roundels of veneer that are then laid in patterns. Often outlined with wood stringing, particularly boxwood.

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