Queen Anne Period

Strictly speaking, the period between 1702 and 1714, but many writers do not consider the reigns of William and Mary and George I. worthy of being called periods in connection with furniture, and they divide the years between 1689 to about 1727 into Early Queen Anne, Queen Anne, and Decorated Queen Anne. See Periods.

Rabbet Or Rebate

A recess or groove cut in one piece of wood to form a bed for the edge of another piece of wood, glass, etc. Thus a rabbet or rebate is sometimes cut on the interior edges of the seat-framing of a chair to hold a removable seat firmly in its place.

Rail

The horizontal tie-bar in the framing of a piece of furniture. For example, the top rail of a chair-back, the seat rail, the stretcher rail; and in a door, the top, frieze, lock and bottom rails uniting the stiles.

Rake

The inclination, slope, or slant of anything from the upright, such as the slope of a chair-back. The outward inclination is called the splay.

Ram's Head

A favourite decorative motive of classical origin, introduced by Robert Adam in designs for furniture and decorative work.

Range Tables

A name given in the latter years of the eighteenth century to small rectangular tables of the same size, which could be used to make up a table of any required length. The end sections were sometimes rounded.

Reading-Stand Or Reading-Desk

Considerable attention was given in the latter part of the eighteenth century to the development of these stands. They had always been articles of church furniture, but with the increase of books a demand sprang up for such conveniences for use in the library and elsewhere. For example, Hepplewhite & Co., in their "Guide," describe one which is somewhat typical - "on a tripod stand, a staff slide in the stem fixed with a screw, supporting an adjustable book-holder or table."

Rebate

See Rabbet.

Recessed Stretcher

A term used when the front stretcher, instead of forming a tie between the front legs, is set back and attached to the two side stretchers.

Reeding

A series of narrow convex mouldings, applied to or carved on the surface of furniture. When concave instead of convex the combination is called fluting.

Reed-Top

See Tambour.

Refectory Tables

Previous to the Tudor period these tables consisted of boards for the top, loose or joined together, supported by trestles. They then developed into firmly made tables with massive bulbous legs, often elaborately carved, with heavy stretchers between them close to the floor. This table gained importance in Jacobean times, and finally disappeared as a type towards the end of the seventeenth century.

Regency

In the history of French furniture, the Regency period was one of considerable importance. It began on the death of Louis XIV. in 1715, and lasted until 1723, when his great-grandson, Louis XV., was declared to have attained his majority at the age of thirteen. Towards the end of the period Rocaille work, which was so popular for the next two decades, was introduced from Italy, mainly through the influence of Meissonier.