Table Chair Or Monk's Seat

An arm-chair or settle of the seventeenth century or earlier with a hinged table-top forming the back. When the back was lowered over the arms, a table was formed.

Tabouret

A low stuffed stool the right to sit upon which - avoir le tabouret - in the presence of the King or Queen of France was the most highly prized distinction of the ladies of the Court, especially in the seventeenth century. It was introduced into England about the middle of that period. At the Court of Queen Anne tabourets were provided for her ladies, but by this time the side-chairs had become popular, and few stools comparatively were made.

Taffety Or Taffeta (Italian Taffetta)

One of the silk and afterwards the silk and wool fabrics used for upholstering in England from towards the end of the seventeenth century.

Tall-Boy

A piece of furniture introduced into England after the "high-boy" in the time of William and Mary, and made during the whole of the eighteenth century, consisting of a chest of drawers with small drawers at the top mounted on another chest of drawers of similar design, without small drawers, usually standing on bracket feet.

Tall-Case Clock

See Grandfather Clock.

Talon And Ball Feet

See Claw and Ball Feet.

Tambour Or Reed Top

A flexible pull-over top, sometimes also called a "roll" top, to a table or desk, consisting of a sheet or backing of strong canvas of the length required, on which are glued transversely a series of small mouldings or reeds, the ends of which fit into grooves provided on the inner sides of the desk or other article, in order to guide the top in the direction required when it is pushed back. The top when pushed back falls perpendicularly at the back of the desk. Sometimes the tambour was used in an upright position to form small doors on cabinets, etc.

Taper Foot

See Spade Foot.

Taper Leg

See Therm Leg.

Tarsia

A kind of mosaic or inlay of woods of various colours, ivory, etc., much in vogue in the Renaissance in Italy, especially in Venice. Architectural designs in perspective were rather characteristic of this work, the woods used being stained or burnt to produce the shades of colour needed.

Taste

The word, in regard to the fine arts, is usually associated with the faculty of discerning what is fitting, beautiful and excellent. In furniture, the word is often used synonymously with characteristic, type, manner, fashion, or style. Thus it is usual to speak of the Indian, Chinese, and French tastes, not necessarily implying that they are beautiful or excellent.

Tea-Caddy

In the eighteenth century, when the price of tea was sometimes from twenty to thirty shillings per pound, the prudent housekeeper usually kept her stock under personal supervision. Thus the tea-caddy became a necessary article, and when of wood it was often made in very elegant form, to accord with the furniture of the best rooms in which it was kept. China and earthenware were also extensively used and sometimes silver and pewter. Chippendale refers to the tea-caddy as a "tea-chest," and in Hepplewhite's "Guide" there are designs for caddies.