Trophies

Designs, often seen in the decorative work of interiors and in furniture in marquetry, representing groups of military arms and weapons, flags, etc. By extension the word is sometimes used in connection with other objects; thus groups of musical instruments are spoken of as musical trophies.

Truckle Or Trundle Bed

A name given to a low bed which could sometimes be pushed under another bed, and was used for children and inferiors. Such beds were used in the seventeenth century and earlier, but without castors, as the word "truckle" would suggest. Metal castors were not introduced till towards the end of the eighteenth century.

Truss

In furniture the word is sometimes used instead of bracket, console, or corbel. Thus the carved ornamental features sometimes found down the whole length of the canted corners of a commode are called corner trusses.

Tub Front

When the front of a cabinet or other article is broken into convex and concave surfaces separated by fillets, it is called a tub or block front. Fronts of this kind were made in the latter part of the eighteenth century.

Tub Sofa

A fully upholstered sofa of French design the ends of which swept round in curves provided with arm pads so that the persons sitting at the ends were slightly turned towards each other.

Tudor Style And Period

The Tudor style was a transition between the Gothic and the Classical of the Renaissance. The transition commenced from the beginning of the sixteenth century, and was in active progress in the time of Henry VIII. A further and distinct development took place in the reign of Elizabeth, and thus it is usual to speak of the Tudor period as meaning from 1500 to 1558, and the Elizabethan from 1558 to 1603. These two periods are more important in connection with architecture and internal decoration than with furniture. See Periods and Renaissance.

Tulip

The wood of this tree was used by cabinetmakers for their best inlay and banding work, and esteemed for its grain and colour, a bright brown with reddish stripes.

Tunbridge Ware

A kind of veneer made at Tunbridge Wells, having the appearance of minute mosaic work, which is applied as a decoration to various articles. The veneer is cut from the ends of a number of small rods of wood of different colours, which have been arranged and glued together so that the ends form a pattern.

Turkey Work

An embroidery or tapestry of oriental design, in bright colours, used for the covering of the backs and seats of chairs, for some time after the middle of the seventeenth century.

Tutenag

The commercial term in the East Indies for zinc. See Paktong.

Twist

A term sometimes given to the spiral turning introduced into England from the French and Dutch in the middle of the seventeenth century, which became very fashionable in the Restoration, for the legs of tables and chairs and the uprights of chair-backs.

Under-Framing

The member of a piece of furniture which is supported by the legs or feet and carries the superstructure; as, for instance, the framing under a table-top, or the plinth of a cabinet. The under-framing of a chair is usually called the seat-framing or the seat rails. The outer surface of the member is sometimes richly ornamented with piercings, carvings, inlay, painting, etc., and further enriched with pendants, aprons, etc.