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Faberge Extraordinary jeweled works of art by Peter Carl Faberge, legendary jeweler to the Czars of Russia.

faïence The French name for tin glazed earthenware. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

faience Richly decorated and colorful pottery produced first in Faenza, Italy and at Rouen, France about 1644. Small flowers, cornucopias and arrows are typical motifs done in blue, green, and yellow on a cream white background

Fair Market Value Fair Market Value - The fair market value is "the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or sell and both having knowledge of relevant facts." (Treasury Regulation) ASA Int'l Personal Property Committee

Famille Rose Famille rose (also known as fencai or ruan cai, meaning 'soft colours', and later as yang cai, meaning 'foreign colours') was introduced during the reign of Kangxi (1654-1722), possibly around 1720. It used mainly pink or purple and remained popular throughout the 18th and the 19th centuries. Famille rose enamel ware allows a greater range of colour and tone than was previously possible, enabling the depiction of more complex images, including flowers, figures and insects. It is made by drawing a sketch on the shaped clay, which is then covered with ‘glassy white’ (bo li bai), an opaque white enamel (lead arsenate), and painted in detail with the mixture of pigment and oil, before firing. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famille_rose Another Source: Meaning "the pink family". Famille-rose enamels were first introduced around the end of the 1720's for use on porcelain. The best quality famille-rose export wares date from the Yongzheng period (1723-1735). The majority of the enamels is opaque or semi-opaque and does not flow when fired. The palette takes its name from a rose-colored enamel which makes up a characteristic color in the palette. Other significant colors in this palette are opaque yellow and opaque white. 'Yangcai' meaning 'foreign colors' is one of many Chinese terms for 'famille rose' and was in use during the Qianlong reign to refer to that palette. In the Yongzheng reign it was known as 'ruancai' (soft colors). Fencai (powder colors) is a 19th C term which has been further defined to being 'famille rose decor against a white ground' whereas 'falangcai' has become the name for 'famille rose on a colored ground'. Most likely 'falang' is a Chinese pronunciation of 'foreign' while 'cai' just means 'enamels'.

fashion doll A mid-to-late 19C French doll, usually with a bisque head and elaborate, fashionable clothing. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

fauteuil French open-armed chair with upholstered seat and back.

Federal An American period 1780-1830 influenced by English Adam, Sheraton, Regency, Hepplewhite, French Directoire, and Empire. Mahogany was used extensively but cherry, pine, and maple were also used. The most common ornament on this period of furniture was the eagle.

Feet I was fortunate to be appraising the personal property of a 92 year old widow and in her file cabinet I came across an illustration which is the best and most complete depiction of feet. Mouseover the illustration and click to enlarge!

feldspathic glaze The glaze on hard-paste porcelain which fuses into a type of natural glass at a very high temperature.

festoon (Also called garland or swag) A string or garland of ribbons, flowers, fruit or foliage draped between two supports. Source:http://ah.bfn.org/a/DCTNRY/f/festoon.html

Filigree (metal) - Decorative technique using open or backed wire work. The fine wire is typically gold or silver and is worked into an intricate design.

finial A decorative knob at the end of a terminal or on the cover of silver or ceramic vessels. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3 The finial is an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed to decoratively emphasize the apex of a gable, or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Smaller finials can be used as a decorative ornament on the ends of curtain rods or applied to chairs and furniture. These are frequently seen on top of bed posts or clocks. Decorative finials are also commonly used to fasten lampshades, and as an ornamental element at the end of the handles of souvenir spoons. Finials can also be decorative members at the ends of curtain rods. An architectural finial can also function as a lightning rod, and was once believed to act as a deterrent to witches on broomsticks attempting to land on one's roof. Finial is also a term given to straw animals at the ridges of thatched cottages. Finial maker is the term given to the artisan that makes the straw animal. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finial

finial An ornamental knob usually on the cover of a tureen or similar, where it serves as a handle. Finial - An ornament used as a terminating motif usually in the form of a ball, flame, flower, acorn, pineapple, or vase.

firing The baking of ceramics in a kiln. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

flashing The covering of a glass vessel with a thin layer of differently colored glass which can the be carved. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

flatware A general term of any type of cutlery. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

Fleur-de-lis The conventionalized iris flower used by the former kings of France as a decorative motif symbolizing royalty.

flip-top A table having two leaves, one on top of the other.

flirty eyes Dolls' eyes that move from left to right as well as open and close. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

Fluted Leg a type of furniture leg, in which a series of rounded channels or grooves are carved vertically into a straight leg at regular intervals; modeled after ancient Greek columns, it flourished in the Neoclassical styles of the second half of the 18th century, such as Hepplewhite, as well as 19th-century Classical Revival styles; similar to a reeded leg, except that fluted channels are concave (vs. convex)

fluting Decoration formed by making parallel, concave grooves. In classical architecture they are commonly seen on column shafts and run in a vertical direction.

foliate Leaf and flower motifs. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

footrim The projecting circular support at the base of a plate or vessel. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

Francois Linke Linke, Francois - Francois Linke was the most celebrated and influential ebeniste(cabinet maker) of his time. His work has long been admired for its exceptional quality and innovative interpretation of the Louis XV and Art Nouveau styles.

French Ivory Synthetic ivory. An artificial plastic produced to imitate ivory first produced by the Xylonite Company in 1866. Other names include Celluloid, Ivoride, Ivorine, Ivorite and Pyralin.

French polish A durable finish of high gloss created by applying successive layers of shellac varnish to wood. The degree of shine may vary froma subtle gloss to a mirrored gloss. The name is used because it is believed to have been first used in France in the late 1600s.

French Provincial - Furniture style created by craftsmen in the French provinces. Local woods were generally used for pieces that were practical for the home. Tended to be simpler versions of the Louis XV style

fresco A painting done on plaster before it dries, generally in mural decoration.

fretwork Geometric pierced decoration. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

fretwork Elaborate form of pierced decoration in wood created by using a fretsaw.

frieze A long ornamental piece of wood underneath table top or cornice. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

fusee A grooved metal cone that offsets the force of the spring as it runs down to ensure accurate timekeeping. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3