Placido Columbani

An Italian artist who assisted Robert Adam in designing decorative work, mirror frames, etc. He published in 1775 a volume entitled "A New Book of Ornaments" and in 1776 " A Variety of Capitals, Friezes, Cornices and Chimney-pieces."

Commode

The French term for any kind of chest containing drawers. The word is generally used in England to describe a chest of drawers of specially artistic merit. Although commodes were made in England during the last half of the eighteenth century of exceptional beauty and good workmanship they can hardly compare with the magnificent specimens of the contemporary French craftsmen.

Composition Or Compo

Was introduced by the brothers Adam for the decoration of the panels of ceilings, walls, doors, etc., and was composed of whiting, resin and size cast in moulds of various patterns, and applied to a wooden foundation, thus giving the effect of carving. The idea was, no doubt, derived from the "gesso" work of the Italians. The Adam moulds are believed to be still in existence.

Confidente

An upholstered settee with somewhat triangular seats beyond the arms at each end.

Console

A bracket usually in the form of an S-scroll or curve, used on furniture as an ornamental feature rather than as a support.

Console-Table

A side-table fixed as a rule to the wall, sometimes with receding legs giving it a bracketlike effect. It was introduced from France early in the eighteenth century and is sometimes called a pier-table.

Continued Chimney Piece

See Chimney Piece.

Contre-Partie Or Counter-Boulle

Marquetry in which the brass forms the ground-work and the tortoise-shell the less prominent part. The reverse arrangement is termed premiere partie.

Conversation Chairs

The name covers many kinds of chairs used for the purpose named. Two interesting examples may be mentioned, one the Caqueteuse with high back, the seat sometimes turning on a pivot, introduced into England in the sixteenth century, the other made in the eighteenth century in saddle-like form enabling the occupant to sit with comfort facing the back of the chair, the top rail of which was padded for the arms to rest on. These chairs had the further advantage of enabling the fop to display his elaborately embroidered coat-tails, without risking their injury by sitting upon them.

Copeland, Or Copland, H

A cabinet-maker of the Chippendale and, later, of the Adam School. In 1746, in conjunction with another designer named Bucksher, he published "A New Book of Ornaments." A later volume of the same character (1752) is described as being the work of "Copland" and Mathias Lock; at that time Copeland was in business in Cheapside and Lock in Tottenham Court Road. In 1768 they issued "A New Book of Ornaments" in a much more restrained style than previously.

Copies

See Reproductions.

Coquillage

The French word often used by English writers to describe the shell-like pattern which, with representations of birds, flowers, masks, and other carved designs, made up the ornamentation of mirror frames, clocks, etc., in the French rococo style prevalent in England during a portion of the Chippendale period.