Louis XVI

King Louis-Auguste reigned in France between 1774 to 1793. The Louis XVI style was a return to classicism looking to Greek and Roman culture for inspiration. Characteristics of this style were architectural ornamentation, classic symmetry, geometric marquetry,decorative escutcheons, small mechanized elements, and the predominant use of mahogany with linear gilt bronze mounts that emphasized veneers. Decorative motifs such as garland swags, horns of plenty, vasiform shapes, olive leaves, and cone finials were common and often referencing historical styles.

Putti

Cherub-like figures used commonly in Italian Baroque painting and design. Putti are often depicted as nude infant boys, sometimes with wings. Though similar to cherubs, they are not interchangeable, putti being a more secular version of the biblical cherubim.

Ormolu

French gilding technique of applying finely ground gold with a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze. High heat is applied in a kiln burning off the mercury and leaving behind the gold affixed to the bronze and is finished by hand-chasing. Also known as gilt-bronze or bronze doré. Often used to refer to bronze furniture mounts enhanced by gilding.

Porcelain

Porcelain is a hard, non-porous pottery. Porcelain is white, has a fine-grained body and usually translucent. Porcelain differs from earthenware in that earthenware is porous, opaque and coarse. True porcelain is made of kaolin or china clay.