Gainsborough Chair: A deep armchair with an upholstered seat and back, padded open arms, and carved decoration.

Gallery Rail: A small slender railing, usually brass, that borders a sideboard or table.

Garnetting: A production process in which short cotton fibers are combed into a specific orientation and formed into layers.

Gateleg Table: A style of drop-leaf table with leaves that are supported by extra legs that swing out like gates.

Gauge: The measure of the diameter of wire used in furniture and mattress springs. The lower the gauge, the heavier/thicker the wire.

Georgian: Elegant design of the 1700’s, which is heavier and more ornate than Queen Anne. Georgian features include elaborately carved cabriole legs, ball and claw feet, pierced backsplats and ornate carving.

Gesso: A painted or gilded bas-relief plaster decoration.

Gilding: A coating with a thin layer of gold or gold-like substance.

Gimp: An ornamental flat braid or round cord used as a trimming.

Gingham: A fabric with a checked pattern that's created by weaving together two different colored yarns.

Glaze: A coloring technique used in the finishing process of furniture to highlight the grain characteristics of wood or to give a high sheen to leather.

Goblet Pleat: A pinch-pleated drapery heading filled out with batting or stiff paper.

Goose-Neck Arm: A chair with curved wooden arms resembling a goose’s neck.

Gothic: Pieces from this period (late 1100’s to early 1500’s) were large with straight lines, and very heavy in weight and scale. Production often took place in monasteries and pieces were usually decorated with shapes of religious figures and detailed carving. The Gothic era introduced the Trestle table, stools, and cupboards. A famous piece of this era is the box chair. The box chair had paneled sides and back with a storage space under the seat. The dominant woods used in producing this style were primarily pine and oak.

Gothic Revival: Style influenced by Gothic and medieval influences popular in the mid-1800s, this style is characterized by lines flowing up to a pointed arch or other architectural features.

Gouache: An opaque water-based paint in which the pigments are bound with glue.

Grain: The direction of the fibers in wood. Flat grain wood is sawed perpendicular to the growth rings. Edge grain wood has been sawed parallel to the growth rings.

Grand Rapids Style: Style inspired by several furniture factories in Grand Rapid Michigan at the turn of the 20th century, which is still popular today. Pieces of this design are inexpensive and usually made of oak. The most popular item of this style is the oak pedestal table stained in a light finish.

Grandfather Clock: A freestanding floor clock with a pendulum inside its tower casing. Grandfather clocks normally range from six to seven feet in height.

Grasscloth: A natural fiber wallpaper.

Greek Style: Dating from the 9th century B.C. with Egyptian roots. Characterized by use of bronze animal legs, gilding, encrusted jewels and stones. Used native woods such as olive, yew and cedar. Features include sweeping curves on legs and backs, and centers on couches, chairs, stools, tables, chests and boxes. Usually not highly decorated.

Grommet: An eyelet in a piece of fabric reinforced with two pieces of affixed metal.

Grosgrain: A strong, close-woven corded fabric usually of silk or rayon.

Grout: Thin mortar used for filling spaces such as tile, bricks, etc.

Gueridon: A small rounded topped table or stand, elaborately carved, usually with three legs.

Guimpe: A round or flat braided trim used on upholstered furniture.

Gusset: A narrow panel that's shaped or gathered to give a sense of fullness, such as the side panel of a box shaped cushion for example.