Furniture Terms

• Horseshoe Back
  A curved chair back with an outward splay at its base.
• Hock Leg
  A Cabriole leg with a broken curve on the inner edge.
• Hitchcock Chair
  A chair with a rush seat and a high, slightly bent back.
• Headboard
  A panel of wood at the head of the bed.
• Highboy
  A tall chest raised on four legs.
• Hutch
  A cabinet mounted atop a chest or desk.
• Hope Chest
  A chest with a hinged lid, used to store a woman’s clothing in anticipation of marriage.
• Hypoallergenic
  A type of mattress that reduces allergens for a better night’s rest.
• Harvest Table
  A narrow, rectangular table with drop leaves.
• Hand Rubbed Finish
  A finishing process done by hand in order to give a more antique appearance.
• High Chair
  A tall chair where a baby sits while eating, with a tray table attached and safety straps to keep the baby in place.
• Hall Tree
  A piece of furniture that stands in a hallway, with pegs and storage compartments for hanging coats and storing other items.
• Helicals
  Small, tightly coiled wires or springs attached to the sides of adjacent flat springs.
• Horsehair Upholstery
  A sturdy, glossy type of upholstery made from hair from the tail or mane of a horse.
• Hemlock
  A lightweight wood often used in paneling.
• Hickory
  A strong, hard, tough wood, commonly used in chairs and lawn furniture.
• Holly
  A light, white wood commonly used for inlay and marquetry.
• Hand Rubbed Leather
  Leather upholstery which has the dye applied by hand for greater depth of color and a softer feel.
• Hand
  A term used to describe how soft leather is to the touch and how it feels in the hand.
• Hide
  The raw, unprocessed animal skin that is used to make leather.
• Hassock
  A tightly stuffed upholstered cushion, sometimes used as a footstool.
• Handkerchief Table
  A drop-leaf table in a triangular shape, which becomes a square shape when the leaf is raised.
• Haircloth
  A type of upholstery made from a mixture of horsehair and linen.