Inlay

Form of decoration which involves cutting small pieces of ivory, precious metals, mother-of-pearl, or wood which are then fitted into carved-out recesses of the same shape on a solid piece of furniture to create a picture or geometric design. Differs from marquetry which uses applied veneers.

Pedestal

A tall, narrow base which supports a statue, lamp, vase or any decorative object. Usually treated with moldings at the top and a base block on the bottom. Without moldings it is called a plinth.

Burl

Burl is a type of wood that comes from an irregular growth on a tree. Burl wood is usually cut in a thin veneer form to show its exquisite detail. Burl wood is most common in walnut, elm and yew. Burl wood has been used to decorate furniture for centuries and was highly popular during the Biedermeier period.

Veneer

A wood finishing technique in which thin sheet of fine wood is applied to a the surface of a coarser wood or other structural material for decoration. Veneer is used to give furniture pieces a finer, more pleasing appearance. It was first used in ancient Egypt, classical Greece, and Rome, but did not appear again until the 17th Century in the Netherlands.