Glossary of Terms

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

c

inlay

design formed of contrasting woods, grains, metal, tortoiseshell, mother of pearl, or other material inserted to be flush with the furniture surface.

intarsia

a decorative inlay pattern, particularly referring to wood mosaics.

international style

Historically from 1920 to 1939. Minimalist style that grew out of Germany’s Bauhaus, with such practitioners as Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Simple lines and an absence of decoration are its hallmarks. New materials, such as chrome and glass, along with factory production, signify its departure from earlier furniture traditions. The international aspect means that the furnishings are devoid of regional characteristics and stress functionalism. International style is closely tied to modernist style.