Black Forest

Term used for furniture carved in rural Germany and Switzerland during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Originally named for the Black Forest region of Germany where it was thought to have come from, it is now believed most Black Forest furniture was produced in Brienz Switzerland as an economic stimulus for the timber industry and local wood craftspeople. Black Forest furniture is commonly identified by its symbolic use of carved bears and other forest creatures such as eagles, ibexes, chamois, deer, and boars. Frequently the furniture is made of local woods of the region like the linden tree as it is easily carved, but walnut was also widely used.

Filigree

Primarily refers to fine, ornate metalwork (mainly in gold, silver, or copper), that is intricately patterned and used as ornamentation or embellishment, particularly in fine jewelry making. More broadly, the term can refer to any ornamental openwork that is delicate or fine that resembles a metal filigree in its pattern, but in other mediums.

Oak

A dense hardwood valued in furniture making for its durability and strength. It varies in shade depending on variety and can range from a lighter wood (white oak) to a deep reddish brown (red oak). It became popular during the Tudor period in England and remains a popular wood variety.