The Alphabet of Art & Antiques – E is for…

August 25, 2020

Ébéniste

An ébéniste is a French term for a cabinet-maker, particularly one who works in ebony. Ébénistes make case furniture, either veneered or painted.

An antique wooden table with a rectangular top, ornate carved edges, and two curved legs connected by a horizontal bar. The wood has a rich, warm tone and visible grain, with decorative detailing along the edges and feet. This exquisite piece of art showcases alphabet-inspired carvings subtly integrated into its design, highlighting both craftsmanship and elegance. The table casts a faint shadow.

From Jayne Thompson Antiques: small English burr oak writing table, circa 1835

Egg-and-dart

Egg-and-dart is a repetitive design, most often found on molding or trim. The pattern is characterized by a repetition of oval shapes, like an egg split lengthwise, with various non-curved patterns, like “darts,” repeated between the egg pattern. In three-dimensional sculpting of wood or stone, the pattern is in bas-relief, but the pattern can also be found in two-dimensional painting and stencil. The exquisite architectural fragment belongs to one of the decorative moldings of the Erechtheum, the building on the Athenian Akropolis that accommodated a variety of venerable cults and sanctuaries, circa 421–409 B.C.

A fragment of carved white marble features egg-and-dart pattern reliefs, showcasing the refined craftsmanship often admired in antiques. The piece is broken and irregular, showing two egg shapes with dart motifs between them, framed by oval and linear designs. The marble is aged and slightly stained, offering a glimpse into the art of classical ornamentation.

Empire

The Empire style is an early-nineteenth-century design movement in architecture, furniture, other decorative arts, and the visual arts, representing the second phase of Neoclassicism. The style takes its name from the rule of the Emperor Napoleon I in the First French Empire. The previous fashionable style in France had been the Directoire style, a more austere and minimalist form of Neoclassicism, that replaced the Louis XVI style. The Empire style brought a full return to ostentatious richness.

Ornate wooden sleigh bed with high, curved headboard and footboard, both ending in scrolls. Gilded, sculpted mermaid and lion figure decorations embellish the corners, giving the bed an elaborate, antique appearance reminiscent of fine Antiques. Warm brown and gold hues dominate.

Empire parcel-gilt mahogany bed, image via Sotheby’s

Enamel

Vitreous enamel, also called porcelain enamel, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850°C (1,380 and 1,560°F). The powder melts, flows, and then hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating. The word comes from the Latin vitreum, meaning “glass”. Enamel can be used on metal, glass, ceramics, stone, or any material that will withstand the fusing temperature.

A four-leaf clover brooch with gold edges and small pearls outlining each leaf, this piece is a true work of art. The leaves are deep green with bright yellow-green veins, and a gold stem curls at the bottom center—making it a charming accessory for lovers of unique antiques.

From Lawrence Jeffrey Estate Jewelers: charming enamel clover brooch, 14k, circa 1900s

Encaustic

Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. The liquid or paste is then applied to a surface—usually prepared wood, though canvas and other materials are also used. Metal tools and special brushes can be used to shape the paint before it cools, or heated metal tools can be used to manipulate the wax once it has cooled onto the surface. Today, tools such as heat lamps, heat guns, and other methods of applying heat allow artists to extend the amount of time they have to work with the material. Because wax is used as the pigment binder, encaustics can be sculpted as well as painted. Other materials can be encased or collaged into the surface, or layered, using the encaustic medium to stick them to the surface.

A textured painting of the U.S. flag in muted gray and white tones. The stars and stripes are visible but obscured by rough, layered brushstrokes, creating an abstract, weathered effect reminiscent of vintage art or cherished antiques. The flag is divided into three panels within a thin frame.

“White Flag” by Jasper Johns, 1955 (Encaustic, oil, newsprint, and charcoal on canvas)

Encoignure

Encoignure is a type of furniture located in a corner of a room. In French, it literally means the angle, or return, formed by the junction of two walls. Since the 20th century, the word has been mainly used to designate a small armoire, commode, cabinet or cupboard made to fit a corner.

A cream-colored corner cabinet with curved legs, decorated with green and black chinoiserie-style landscape scenes of trees, people, birds, and pagodas, and bordered with intricate floral and scrollwork designs—a true work of art that would delight any collector of fine antiques.

Corner cupboard by Thomas Chippendale, about 1768–78. Image via Victoria and Albert Museum.

Epergne

An epergne is a table centerpiece, usually made of silver but can also be made of another metal, glass, or porcelain. An epergne generally has a large central “bowl” or basket, resting on three to five feet. From this center “bowl” radiate branches supporting small baskets, dishes, or candleholders.

A detailed silver epergne, a true masterpiece of antiques, features a large central bowl elevated above six smaller bowls, each set on ornate, curved arms with intricate patterns. It stands on four decorative legs, showcasing elegant, classical design against a plain blue-gray background.

From S.J. Shrubsole: a George III antique English silver epergne, London, 1778, by Thomas Pitts

Escutcheon

A decorative plate used to conceal a functioning, non-architectural item – such as a keyhole, door handle, or light switch – for protection and decoration.

Ornate brass keyhole escutcheon with a floral pattern set into polished reddish-brown wood—a fine example of antiques artistry. The metal plate is decorative, featuring swirls and cutouts around a central keyhole, reminiscent of the elegant alphabet curves found in classical art. The wood grain is visible, and the metal shows slight signs of tarnish.

Escutcheon on chest of drawers attributed to the Philadelphia joiner John Head. Image via Sotheby’s.

Egyptomania

Egyptomania was the renewed interest of Europeans in ancient Egypt during the nineteenth century as a result of Napoleon’s Egyptian Campaign (1798–1801) and, in particular, as a result of the extensive scientific study of ancient Egyptian remains and culture inspired by this campaign. The grandeur and “exoticism” of its pyramids, temples, Great Sphinx, and culture have made this great civilization a recurring subject in architecture, film, art, and popular culture. During the 20th century Egyptomania reached a fever pitch in the United States: Howard Carter’s 1922 discovery of King Tutankhamen’s Tomb caused a nationwide craze, and Elizabeth Taylor’s portrayal of Cleopatra in the 1963 classic film inspired a new interest in ancient Egyptian fashion.

An ornate black and gold daybed with teal upholstery, this striking piece of art features lion sculptures decorating each armrest and gold classical motifs adorning the sides and legs. The cushion showcases elegant patterns and gold trim, while tassels hang from the corners—a true statement for lovers of antiques.

Regency Egyptian Revival style settee by Thomas Hope, circa 1802. Image via the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences.

By Vera Vandenbosch