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Glossary of antique and collectable terms

There are 856 entries in this glossary.

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Term	Definition
Badge	A badge or an emblem is an insignia of membership or office or dignity. Badges have been worn since the 1600’s with the early badges sewn onto the upper arm of a garment. Later ones were made from various metals and were pinned on, or suspended from the garment. Badges were issued by organisations such as Livery companies, Masonic lodges, Corporations etc.
Baffa Diamond	Baffa diamond is actually rock crystal and not a real diamond
Baguette Cut	A baguette cut is a stone, usually a diamond, that has been cut into a long, rectangular shape. Baguette means "stick" or "rod" in French
Bail	A bail is a triangular finding that attaches a pendant to a necklace
Bakelite	Bakelite, also called catalin, is the trade name for a dense, synthetic resin, phenol formaldehyde or phenolic, developed by the German chemist Leo Baekland and patented in 1907. This hard non-flammable plastic could not be remoulded once set. It had a limited colour range, principally mottled brown or black, but also blue and green. When one Bakelite colour is inlaid into another, interesting designs like polka dots can be made. Bakelite plastic is made from carbolic acid and formaldehyde, and when rubbed, Bakelite gives off benzene like smell. Bakelite became popular in the 1920’s and 1930’s when it was used for domestic items, jewellery and electrical fittings. Bakelite pieces are moulded, extruded, or carved. Bakelite was first used to imitate amber.
Ball and Claw Foot	A termination for furniture legs that became popular in the early 1700’s, derived from Chinese bronzes where the dragon holds a flaming pearl of wisdom. In Europe the claw of an eagle was sometimes substituted for the dragon’s claw.
Baluster Leg	A style of leg, shaped like a baluster, used on chairs and tables in the 1600's
Band	A band is a ring that is made from a thin, flat, ribbon-like strip of material, usually metal. The band can be unadorned or decorated. Wedding rings are often bands
Banded Agate	Banded agate is a type of agate with distinct layers of colour
Bangle	A bangle is of rigid construction that is worn as an ornament on the wrist or forearm, whilst the bracelet although similar in use is a flexible band or series of links. Some bangles have a hinge while others are solid and must be slipped over the hand. Bangles and bracelets have been worn as ornaments by men as well as by women from the earliest times. They were made from bone, coral or ivory, as well as metal, and were worn in primitive as well as civilised societies. Today in the West mainly women wear bangles, but in the East they are still worn by men. Occasionally they are worn on both arms, with two or more bangles worn at the same time. Ankle bangles are now more common and worm mainly by women
Bar and Ring Clasp	A bar and ring clasp, also called a toggle clasp, is a jewellery fastener in which a bar can be inserted into a ring to fasten a piece of jewellery It is used to attach the two ends of a necklace or bracelet.
Bar Brooch	A bar brooch is a type of brooch in the form of one or more horizontal bars. The bars may be left plain or decorated along its length or with gemstones or a decorative motif at the centre and gemstones or other decoration at the terminals.
Bar Pin	A bar pin, also called a bar brooch, is a type of brooch in the form of one or more horizontal bars. The bars may be left plain or decorated along its length or with gemstones or a decorative motif at the centre and gemstones or other decoration at the terminals.
Barley Sugar	An alternative name for Twist-Turned legs such as those on some late 1600's tables
Baroda Gem	Baroda Gem is a trade name for a colourless glass stone with a foil back.
Baroque	Baroque is a term that refers to irregularly-shaped stones or pearls
Baroque Pearls	Baroque pearls are irregularly-shaped pearls. Baroque pearls can be natural or artificial
Barrel Clasp	A barrel clasp is a jewellery fastener that resembles a barrel. The two pieces of this clasp screw together. It is used to attach two other rings or links of a necklace or bracelet.
Barrette	A barrette is an ornament worn clipped into the hair.
Base Metal	Base metal refers to non-precious metals such as copper tin, lead and zinc, as opposed to the precious metals gold, silver and platinum. The term is often used of plated articles when it is not obvious which metal has been plated over. Basse-taille, meaning "low cutting" in French, is an enamelling technique in which the underlying metal (usually gold or silver) is carved in low relief (the metal's surface is cut away by engraving or chasing, producing a sculpted surface). The highest point of the relief carving is below the surface of the surrounding metal. Translucent enamels are applied over the carved metal, allowing the design to remain visible through the enamel. The hue of the enamel changes with the depth of the glaze, resulting in subtle variations in colour over the high and low design elements.