Boasting

A word used to describe rough carving. Matthias Lock called it "Bosting," the wage for which in the middle of the eighteenth century was a shilling a day compared with five shillings paid to the journeyman carver who put in the details.

Boffet Or Buffet Chair

A three-legged triangular chair of Scandinavian origin, freely ornamented with turned work, with the front seat rail at the base of the triangle and a single post and short top rail at the apex forming the back, strengthened by radiating supports to the arms. Chairs of this type were made extensively until some time after the end of the sixteenth century, and more rarely since. The form has been revived in our own time.

Bog Oak

Oak preserved in peat-bogs ; much used for furniture and ornaments, and formerly for banding upon oak furniture and panelling.

Bolection

A moulding which projects above the general surface of the work it decorates.

Bolster

A long stuffed pillow or cushion usually placed under the shorter pillow. The name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and it may be taken that bolsters were in use at that period.

Bombe

A term used to describe the curving, swelling or bulging fronts or sides of pieces of furniture. A development of the kettle front, of Dutch origin, which made its appearance in England in the time of William and Mary.

Bookcase

The movable bookcase was a development of the fixed mural bookcase designed by architects for the houses of the wealthy, and was not made by cabinet makers until the mahogany period. Bookcases in walnut, made in the reign of Queen Anne, were probably china cabinets subsequently used for books.

Boss

A round protuberant ornament used as a finial in various positions, often richly carved.

Bottle-End Glazing

A term used for the glazing of cupboard doors of farmhouse furniture or the like, with a blob of glass in the centre of each pane.

Andre Charles Boulle (1642-1732)

A famous French cabinet maker who perfected a marquetry of tortoise-shell and brass as a veneer for furniture. Boulle, sometimes called Buhl, marquetry consists of a design sawn out of a thin plate of brass or other metal, and inlaid into a veneer of tortoise-shell, ivory, wood, etc. When the tortoise-shell predominates and forms the groundwork, it is called "premiere partie"; when the brass predominates it is known as "contre partie" or "Counter Boulle." The art was practised by the Italians in the fifteenth century, and is of very ancient origin. Boulle made large use of scroll, flower, and arabesque motives, many of which were designed for him by B6rain (q.v.). His methods and traditions were continued by his four sons, Jean Philippe, Pierre Benoit, Charles Andre and Charles Joseph, and it is consequently not always easy, even for the expert, to decide between the work of father and sons. The best examples of Boulle work have, however, well authenticated pedigrees.

Bow Front

A front which curves outwards. Mainly an eighteenth-century motive, often applied to chests of drawers and commodes. Sometimes the sides also are bowed. 1 he extent of the curve varies, but the effect is usually elegant.