Glossary of Art and Antique terms

• Mahogany: A close-grained, red-brown wood known for fine woodworking and excellent finishing qualities. This highly desired wood is from the tropical Mahogany tree from which much sought after types are milled, such as Honduras and Cuban. Mahogany is used for both solid woods and for veneers such as crotch mahogany, cut from beneath a fork of the tree.



• mannerism: Italian style of art in 16th century with characteristics of somewhat distorted forms to create heightened emotions. Example: the artist Pontormo.



• Maple: An very hard, fine-grained wood popularly used for colonial American furniture as well as contemporary furnishings. Maplewood is generally a light color, yet some maplewood has a reddish hue, stainable to cherry wood's similar grain. Veneers made from grain patterns of Birdseye and wavy maple are much desirable.



• Marlborough foot: Squared block foot under a slightly tapered or straight Chippendale leg.



• Marquetry: Decorative inlay patterns made of contrasting wood veneer (..ivory, metal or mother of pearl), usually set flush into the entire surface.



• medium: The technique or material an artist works in.



• Mission: This American style evolved in the early 20th century out of the English Arts and Crafts movement in reaction to Victorian furniture excesses. A heavy, simple, rectilinear furniture style with spare use of lines and exposed construction techniques; primarily of dark-oak. The Mission style's origins are represented by Gustav Stickley and the Roycroft Community of upstate New York.



• modeling: 3-dimension effects created by the use of changes in color, light, cross-hatching, etc.



• modern art: The general period from 1905 to 1955, when Pop Art ushered in the postmodern period in art.



• Moderne furniture: American style of furniture in the 1930's with architectural, clean and streamlined furnishings. A 20th century style rooted in Germany's Bauhaus School of Scandinavian designs and Europe's Art Deco and International Styles. Moderne features are asymmetry, curves contrasting with straight lines, polished surfaces and sleek shapes, utilizing manufacturing processes and new materials adapted from industrial design and skyscraper architecture.



• Modular furniture: Units of that can be rearranged or stacked in different conformations of design plans.



• Moiré: A fabric with wavy patterns resembling water on silk.



• molding: Ornamental profiled strips projecting from and applied to a surface or frame.



• motif: (mo-teef) French term describing a recurring decorative theme, element or component of subject matter or content.



• Motion furniture: General term for reclining beds, chairs or sofas with moving parts that allow users to lean back with legs extended.



• Myrtle: A burl wood with curly and intricate graining.

For more information or to purchase, Contact Us.