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Custom French Antique Excursions

Antique Trade Word List

Acajou

Mahogany

Acheter

To buy. In an auction, like at the Paris Drouot auction house, sales are open to all. The item is sold to the highest bidder who will receive a purchase slip. He or she can then collect the item after payment is made. A buyer's premium, a percent announced at the beginning of the sale, is added to the auction price.

Adjugé

Sold. The title of ownership of an item is transferred to the winning bidder when this word is pronounced by the auctioneer.

Applique

Sconce or wall bracket light fixture.

Armoire

Large French country cabinet with two doors which originally stored armor but now is used for clothes storage.

Benezit

The Fine Arts reference book listing all known artists.

Bergère

A French armchair with exposed wooden frame and upholstered sides and cushions. The length of the seat is often longer than that of the arms. The beginning of the Bergère dates from the period of Louis XV, but they were very popular under the reign of Louis XVI.

Bibliothèque

A bookcase and the French word for "library."

Bois

Wood

Bois doré

Gilt wood

Bois massif

Solid wood as opposed to veneer

Bonnetière

An armoire or cabinet, with a rounded top and one long door used to store hats or "bonnets" and other clothing items. The shape is reminiscent of a "Breton" woman's bonnet.

Bordereau

A bill of sale, written proof of purchase given by the auctioneer to the buyer. The bill of sale is the receipt and guarantee in case of dispute, and for insurance purposes.

Bougeoirs

Candlesticks

Buffet à deux corps

A "two-bodied" buffet consisting of an upper cabinet with two doors set upon a lower buffet base which itself opens with doors and sometimes contains drawers.

Bureau plat

A "flat" desk or bureau which served the wealthy under Louis XIV as a writing desk. This table with drawers has four legs and usually a kneehole at which to sit. This furniture type is very popular throughout all periods.

Chaise

Side chair

Cheminée

Fireplace

Chêne

Oak

Chenet

Firedogs or andiron

Chevet

Bedside table

Clerc

In the auction house, the clerk is the assistant to the auctioneer. He can take absentee bids and give estimates.

Coffre

A trunk or large chest originally used for storing. Renaissance époque examples may still be found in the antique market.

Commode

Originally a 19th century salon piece, the commode or chest of drawers was a revered piece of furniture, much in demand in the Louis XIV period. In later periods it was fashionable to be used in the bedroom.

Commissaire-Priseur

Auctioneer

Commissionaire

The "red collars" as they are known (because they wear a uniform - a black jacket with a red collar) are from the Savoie region of France and their job in a French auction is to handle the merchandise. They set up the room for the auction, handle the various lots during the sale and dismantle the room after the sale is over.

Console table

Supported by only two legs, this decorative table was attached to the wall and usually was centered under a mirror between adjoining windows.

Crier

A sale crier. During the French auction, the "crier" calls the bids, delivers the purchase slips and asks for the identity of the buyer.

Cuivre

Copper

Dépôt-vente

Off the beaten track shops containing new and/or slightly used clothing, furniture and merchandise

Etain

Pewter

Enchère

Bid; a price higher than the preceding bids.

Estimation

Estimate, the price or price range at which the auction house estimates that an item will sell.

Etude

Auctioneer's office

Expert

A specialist in each field who assists the auctioneer. He is considered to be the most knowledgeable in his particular field.

Faïence

Pottery

Fauteuil

An armchair

Fer forgé

Wrought iron

Fonte

Cast iron

Frais

Expenses

Garantie

Guarantee, a thirty year guarantee certifies the authenticity of the item as it s described in the official sale's record, catalogue and bill of purchase.

Glace, miroir

A mirror which is surrounded by a frame or "cadre."

Gueridon

Originating in the period of Louis XIII, this pedestal or stand went on to become the term for a small occasional table, often with a round top.

Horloge, pendule

Clock, usually in a tall case, as in "grandfather" clock.

Homme debout

Cabinet with two half-doors on either side of a drawer. Literally, this cabinet is called "standing man" and is most like a "bonnetière" with two doors instead of one.

Laiton

Brass

Laqué, peint

Lacquered or painted Livre Book Lustre Light fixture, chandelier Magasinage Storage area. At the Paris auction house, it is located on the third underground level below the auction rooms.

Merisier

Cherry wood

Nécessaire

A small toilet accessory case

Noyer

Walnut

Ordre d'achat

Absentee bid, if an individual cannot attend an auction sale, he may leave a written bid with the auctioneer or staff, indicating the price he would like to bid for an item in the sale.

Or moulu

Gilded bronze

Panetière

Spindled bread storage piece located on the wall above the "petrin." Highly decorative, especially those from Provence, the panetière was used to keep bread out of the reach of mice.

Petrin

Provincial flour or dough box on a stand. Flour could be made into dough on its top. Highly decorative pieces derive from Provence.

Placage

Veneer

Prix de reserve

A "reserve price" may be left by the seller, in agreement with the auctioneer. This is the minimum price under which the item will not be sold.

Provincial

Items coming from outside the Paris region, e.g. furniture and decor from Normandy, Provence, Burgundy etc. In the first half of the 20th century, it is the term referring to Louis XV style "country" furniture.

Provençal

Decorative arts from the region of Provence.

Scriban

Secretary bookcase or bureau bookcase. This piece of furniture consists of a slanted desk on a commode base mounted with a top to hold books.

Siège

A "seat", which refers to all seating, furniture, for example, "fauteuil," "chaise," etc.

Signé, attribué

Signed or stamped

Tapisserie

Tapestry. Commonly used as interior decoration to line castle walls, to keep in the heat, during the Louis XIV period. The word originates from the French word "tapisser," to line. In the 15th century, elaborate pictorial tapestries were woven by master craftsmen from wool with silk threads. Fine details in clothing, facial expression and landscape are achieved with often remarkable success.

Terre cuite

Baked earth or terra cotta. Clay which is molded or baked into e.g. utilitarian designs and accessories such as vessels, dishes, files. Used in the making of molds for busts and bronzes and for sculptures and figures.

Ticket

A purchase slip; in an auction, the paper bearing the number of the lot item which is delivered to the buyer.

Tissu

Fabric

Trumeau

Very popular from the Régence throughout the Empire period, the trumeau, or wall between windows, became known as the panel above a fireplace or a door, which held a mirror or painting or both.

Vaisselier

Large piece of furniture, common in French farmhouses, consisting of a lower buffet base with combination of doors giving access to its interior, mounted by a plate rack and shelves above. The vaisselier was used for storing pots and cooking paraphernalia below, and displaying various wares above.

Vendre

To sell, to put an item up for sale.