Supports at the base of a piece of furniture that raise the piece slightly off the ground. Feet may be continuous with the legs, distinct from the legs, or found on objects that lack legs. See also legs.

 

Ball feet

Spherical or ovoid feet, especially common on seventeenth-century style furniture. See also bun feet and turned feet.		   ball feet

Paw feet

Feet carved to resemble the foot of a mammal such as a lion or bear.

    
           

Bends

Curved supports that join pairs of legs of an object, allowing it to rock or swing.

Also called rockers.

   curved pieces of wood called bends

Scroll feet

Feet carved to resemble tightly coiled scrolls, the ends of which extend up and are continuous with the leg.

Also called Flemish scroll feet, French feet, French scroll feet, scrolled toe feet, knulled feet, knurl feet, knurl toe feet, tern feet, or whorl feet.

    
           

Block feet

Square or rectangular feet, usually continuous with squared legs. See also therm feet.		   block feet

Slipper feet

Pointed and elongated feet, sometimes with a carved central ridge running across the top of the foot to the leg.

    
           

Bracket feet

L-shaped feet with one horizontal element mounted beneath the object, flush with the plane of the piece, and one vertical element extending down from the corner of the object. Generally, bracket feet have a flat front plane, squared outer vertical edge, and decoratively cut edge along the interior of the foot.

Also called bracket braces, Chinese feet, or Goddard feet.

   bracket feet

Snake feet

Elongated, S-curved feet that broaden at the end to resemble a snake's head.

   snake feet
           

Bun feet

Flattened spherical feet, especially common on seventeenth-century style furniture. See also ball feet and turned feet.

Also called bulbous feet, onion feet, or pieds o'oignon.

    

Spanish feet

Feet carved with vertical ribs that turn inward at the bottom of the foot to form small scrolls.

Also called paintbrush feet, Portuguese feet, tassel feet, and Spanish scroll feet.

   Spanish feet
           

Castors

Swiveling wheels mounted on the undersides of legs to allow easy movement.

Also called casters or wheels.

   castors

Therm feet

Tapering, squared feet, usually continuous with squared, tapering legs. Therm feet are frequently used with therm legs; the legs and feet taper at different rates, creating a double-tapered profile. See also block feet.

Also called arrow feet, Connelly feet, haines feet, plinth feet, term feet, or thimble toes.

   therm feet
           

Claw-and-ball feet

Feet carved to resemble the claw of a bird grasping a sphere or ball. Frequently continuous with cabriole legs.

Also called ball-and-claw feet, claw feet, eagles' feet, or talon and ball feet.

   claw and ball feet

Trifid feet

Feet carved with three or four ribs that widen from top to bottom, ending in a serpentine front edge.

Also called drake feet.

    
           

Club feet

Flattened, circular feet frequently continuous with cabriole legs.

   club feet

Turned feet

Feet with a decorative profile created by lathe-turning. See also ball feet and bun feet for feet turned into specific shapes.