Antique Furniture Terms Explained
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- Whatnot: Is an antique furniture term usually applied to a shelved piece of furniture for incidental use, with or without a drawer and either mobile (on castors) or fixed. Examples date from about 1800 and have the usual characteristic turned uprights with collars or 'bamboo' double-collard designs. Later, like Canterburies, they exhibit Victorian features such as scrolled fretted carvings, burr veneers and bulbous legs. A fitted drawer was also applied.
- Wainscot armchair: 17th century style joined chair with a paneled back, plank seat, and shaped or turned legs and arms. The fielded panel back is sometimes carved.
- Wethersfield chest with drawers: Type of joined chest made c.1700 in the Wethersfield area of Connecticut. Front of chest is typically decorated with applied split spindles, and bosses and panels carved in abstract flower design.
- Winged lion paw: Common motif used on the feet of archeologically inspired Classical furniture.
- Wooton's patent desk: Particular type of desk in which the front consists of two three-dimensional doors which are hinged to the sides. When open, the desk reveals seemingly countless storage compartments. Designed for use by businessmen, patented by William S. Wooton, and made in four grades from 1875 to 1884 in the Renaissance style.
- Work table: Form with one or more drawers, often with a cloth bag hanging below, developed during the Federal period and used for holding women's sewing equipment and materials.
