Tray-Top Table

The name given to a small table, made from the middle of the eighteenth century, with a small gallery or skirting round three or all four of the sides.

Trellis-Work

A structure of cross-barred wood or lattice work. In furniture the term is extended to include any kind of pierced or fretted woodwork having a reticulated appearance, such as the trellised gallery of a table-top, the cornice of a cabinet, or the back of a chair. Adam, Chippendale and others often used brass trellis-work for the doors of their bookcases instead of glass. The words "trellis" and "lattice" are sometimes used when speaking of traceried windows.

Trestle

In a general way the word indicates a kind of frame for supporting things, for example a table, or a railway bridge. In furniture it is best known as one of the earliest means of supporting a table. Until Tudor times the table often consisted of loose boards on folding trestles, so that after use it could easily be removed. Framed or "joined" tables with fixed trestles at each end united by a strong brace then took their place, and soon afterwards the heavy Elizabethan bulbous legged tables became the fashion, and the trestle practically disappeared.

Trestle Foot

An early form of foot consisting of a shaped block extending upon both sides of the leg.

Triangle-Seat

Besides the Boffet or Buffet chair of Scandinavian origin, made in England at the beginning of the seventeenth century, chairs of triangular shape were made in the time of Queen Anne and afterwards, with splats in the two sides under the semicircular arm and back-rest. They were sometimes called corner seats. See Barber's Chair.

Tri-Darn

The Welsh tri-darn was a kind of court cupboard of the Oak period, with two tiers of cupboards and above them an open spindle-sided dresser with a top or canopy over it. When the piece was without the dresser, or in two tiers, it was called a "deu-darn."

Tripod Table

One of the small tables so fashionable in the eighteenth century, used for a tea-table or other purposes. It was made with both fixed and hinged tops, and when hinged it was often called a "tip-up" or "snap" table (q.v). Sometimes the top was made to revolve and was provided with a rim often carved with much elaboration, as, for example, with the "pie-crust" border, or pierced work. In other cases a small gallery was provided round the edge in fretwork, baluster form, etc. The table-top was supported by a central pillar, often beautifully carved, with three spreading legs generally in cabriole shape, with claw and ball feet. This table is said to have been the invention of Chippendale, and was very popular in his time and afterwards.

Trivet

A small open-work frame of iron, steel, or brass, round, square, or oblong in form, provided with a hook to hang on the bars of a grate for keeping hot a kettle, teapot, dish, etc. The name has sometimes been applied also to a metal stand straight in front, placed on the hearth, which was capable of holding a larger number of dishes, plates, etc., than the hanging trivet. In this form it is more properly called a footman (q.v). These appliances became fashionable about the middle of the eighteenth century, and as they were used in the living-rooms they received decorative treatment.