Laurel Or Laurelling

The laurel of the ancients, used for garlands or wreaths, was the bay tree (Laurus nobilis). It became a common architectural motive, and was used for the decoration of friezes, bands, etc., by cabinet-makers of nearly all the schools.

Leaf-Scroll Foot

A variation of the scroll foot with foliate carving on the face, sometimes hipped out in front of the ankle.

Leaf-Work

Small aggregations of leaves carved upon the legs and splats of chairs, and other details of furniture. Extensively used by most of the cabinetmakers of the last quarter of the eighteenth century.

Leather

The use of leather in the seating of chairs is of remote origin. It is probable that its more general use in England was due to the importation of chairs from Holland in the middle of the seventeenth century, and they are sometimes called Cromwellian chairs. Other chairs with cut and embossed leather were imported from Portugal. Leather has since been extensively used in cabinet-making. Chippendale favoured red leather for his open-backed chairs.

Charles Le Brun (1619-1690)

French painter, and first director of the Gobelin factory.

Jean Francois Leleu (Ob. Circa 1782)

A French ebonist who took high rank among others working in the Louis XVI. style. A buffet and an upright secretaire in the Wallace Collection are examples of his skill, but his finest work is the Cartonnier at Chantilly which was in the Hamilton Palace Collection.

Francis Lenygon

Author of "Furniture in England from 1660 to 1760" and also a companion volume, "Decoration in England from 1660 to 1770," in folio size, beautifully illustrated.

Library Press Bedstead

See Folding Furniture.

Lignum Vitae (Guiacum Officinale)

A hard greenish-brown wood, much used for linen chests and cupboards by the Dutch and Flemings in the seventeenth century.

Lime Tree Or Linden (Tilia Europaea)

In consequence of its fine white grain lime is a favourite wood for carving. The marvellous work of Grinling Gibbons was mostly carved in this wood.

Linen-Fold Or Scroll Pattern

This ornament, consisting of a series of upright mouldings, with the ends so carved as to represent folds of linen, was much used for panel decoration in middle Tudor times. It was introduced from Flanders in the fifteenth century.

Linen Press

A cupboard or commode of varying form in which bed and table linen were stored. It was usually fitted with shelves and was commonly of oak. See Press.

Lining

A fine line of inlay sometimes called stringing, contrasting with banding, which is the term for a broad line or band.

Lion Period

The name suggested by Mr. Herbert Cescinsky for the period between 1720 and 1735, when it was the fashion to carve lions' masks on the knees of cabriole legs and on the arms of chairs and settees. Carved furred paws to correspond were used as feet.

Lions' Paw Feet

The use of lions' paws as a design for the feet of chairs, legs, etc., is of very ancient origin. In the Renaissance period in Italy the design was much used, and probably reached England through the French at the beginning of the eighteenth century. It was much in vogue during the "Lion" period (1720-1735).