The Alphabet of Art & Antiques – T is for …

April 19, 2021

Tankard

A tankard is a tall metal  – usually silver or pewter – drinking vessel with one handle for beer, ale or cider. The earliest surviving tankards from the 16th and 17th centuries have the same basic form – straight, tapering sides with an S-shaped handle, rectangular thumbpiece and a hinged lid.

Two silver tankards with closed, hinged lids are displayed side by side. Each has horizontal grooved bands around the upper, middle, and lower sections, and a thumb-piece on the handle. These distinguished antiques showcase skilled craftsmanship against a neutral gradient background.

From S.J. Shrubsole: A pair of George III antique English silver tankards by Augustin Le Sage. London, 1770.

Tantalus

A tantalus is a mid-19th century decorative stand, openwork case or box for spirit decanters. Its defining feature is that it has a lock and key. The aim of that is to stop unauthorized people drinking the contents, while still allowing them to be on show. The name is a reference to the unsatisfied temptations of the Greek mythological character Tantalus.

Three cut glass decanters with ornate stoppers sit in a wooden tantalus with a carry handle and a lockable front. The glass is ribbed diagonally, and the wood is polished, creating a classic, vintage display of art and antiques against a white background.

From Newel: French Victorian oak tantalus set with iron handle and cut crystal decanters.

Tempera

Tempera, also known as egg tempera, is a permanent, fast-drying painting medium consisting of powdered color pigments, mixed with egg yolk or egg white and water. Tempera also refers to the paintings done in this medium. Tempera paintings are very long-lasting, and examples from the first century AD still exist. Egg tempera was a primary method of painting until after 1500 when it was superseded by the invention of oil painting.

A crowned king on a throne gestures toward a haloed man in armor, surrounded by soldiers. A dog is at their feet. Two women kneel and plead. A small golden statue, reminiscent of fine antiques, is in an alcove above. The scene is ornate, with gold and detailed robes, capturing the grandeur of historical art.

A 1367 tempera on wood by Niccolò Semitecolo

Tester bed

A tester bed is a bed with a canopy of carved or draped wood above it (formerly called a celure). A half tester bed is one with the canopy supported above the head and with no posts at the foot.

A detailed black-and-white drawing of an ornate four-poster bed with carved pillars and intricate relief designs on the headboard and canopy. The wooden floor beneath the bed is visible, emphasizing the bed’s elaborate craftsmanship, making it a striking piece for any art or antiques enthusiast.

Ornate Elizabethan tester bed

Thebes stool

A Thebes stool is a wooden stool with a thonged leather or wooden seat based on an Egyptian design and introduced by Liberty and Company, Ltd. in 1884.

Curved wooden stool with a shallow, saddle-shaped seat, supported by four legs connected by crossbars. Decorative carvings on the seat add a touch of artful detail. The legs are tapered and wrapped with horizontal bands, giving a textured look. The wood’s surface is polished and dark brown, reminiscent of fine antiques.

Late 19th century Thebes stool by Liberty and Company, Ltd. Image via the RISD Museum.

Torchère or torchière

A torchère is a lamp with a tall stand of wood or metal. Originally, torchères were tall candle-stands.

Two ornate, tall silver pedestals with intricate leafy designs, each standing on three curved legs that end in claw feet. The tops are round with a beaded edge. The overall style is elaborate and decorative, suggestive of 18th-century craftsmanship and embodying the timeless elegance often admired in fine antiques. These pieces exemplify the artistry of their era, making them truly remarkable works of art.

Pair of tripod candlestands or torchères, circa 1740. Image via The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Trefoil

A trefoil is a Gothic ornament in the shape of three symmetrical leaves. A quatrefoil has four leaves, a cinquefoil five. These ornaments were much used in the nineteenth-century Gothic revival.

Two sets of Gothic-style arched windows with intricate tracery and three slender columns each, stand side by side like timeless pieces of art. The windows, reminiscent of prized antiques, are blocked by a rough brick wall behind them. Decorative stonework runs along the base. The image is in black and white.

Triforium (gallery or arcade above the arches of a church’s nave) with trefoil tracery. Amiens Cathedral, France, 1220-30.

Tremblant

“Tremblant” or “en tremblant” is a French term – meaning “to tremble”. It was first used to describe 18th and 19th-century jewelry where parts of the diamond set pieces (a flower or a bee, for example) were attached to a coiled spring which trembles when the wearer moves. Brooches mounted in this way were particularly effective in reflecting the scintillating fire of candlelight.

An ornate vintage brooch with diamond-studded flowers and leaves set in a gold and silver metal base, viewed on a black background. The pin and clasp are visible at the base, highlighting the intricate, three-dimensional floral design—an exquisite example of wearable art that would grace any collection of fine antiques.

Large Victorian era antique “tremblant” diamond brooch. French, circa 1880. Image via Romanov Russia.

Trompe l’oeil

Trompe l’oeil is French for “deceive the eye”. The term refers to painted decoration with natural shadows designed to to trick the eye into perceiving a painted detail as a three-dimensional object.

A rustic, wooden bench with a high back and angled, wing-like ends. Reminiscent of treasured antiques, the back features painted panels with simple floral and musical motifs—each brushstroke evoking a sense of folk art tradition. The wood shows grain patterns and wear, giving it an aged, handcrafted appearance. The bench has six legs.
A painted, stylized shield features three old-fashioned, iron keys arranged in a fan shape, overlapping at the bow. Reminiscent of cherished antiques, the background is wood grain flanked by a cream, shield-shaped border with dark brown outlines. The keys vary in size and shape.

From Carlton Hobbs: Trompe l’oeil detail on an unusual pair of faux wood painted benches, North Italy Or Tyrolean. Circa 1800.

By Vera Vandenbosch