Whether you're new to the world of antiques or a connoisseur with a curated collection, Lolo's A to Z Glossary of French Antiques
furniture terms with photographs and illustrations is an essential tool that will help educate and enlighten you.
I
icon: Portrait or image. In the Greek and Russian church it refers to the panels containing portraits or figures of sacred personages, as the Virgin and the various saints.
incised: A pattern or carving produced by cutting into a stone, wood, or other hard surface. The reverse of relief carving.
inlay: To set into a surface, usually at the same level, to form a design. In furniture, a form of decoration the involves cutting small pieces of ivory, precious metals, mother-of-pearl, or wood that are then fitted into small recesses of the same shape on a solid pieces of furniture to create a picture or pattern. See marquetry and parquetry. Inlay is recessed into a solid carcass, as opposed to marquetry, which is done with veneer. Also referred to as “intarsia” in Italian.
intaglio: A decorative technique in which a design is cut into a hard surface. Intaglio is also the Italian word for carving.
interlace: Decorative motif composed of intertwining bands.
ironstone china: Created to imitate porcelain, ironstone china was first made in England in 1813 by Charles James Mason of Staffordshire and was known as "Mason's Ironstone." Ironstone china is very hard, opaque and pale-bodied.
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Bureau Plat
or Writing Table with Parquetry Inlay, Ebossed
Leather Top and Ormolu Mounts
19th Century Antique Dutch White
Ironstone Pedestal Cake Stand