Blockfront

Alternating raised and depressed surfaces on the front of a piece of case furniture. Raised surfaces may be curved or squared.

Also called block front, block-front, swell'd front, or swelled.

Demi-lune

Convex, curved surface including the front and sides, or top front and side edges, of a piece of furniture. The semicircular or crescent shape of a demi-lune includes multiple sides of the piece in contrast to the bowfront, which is restricted to the front of the piece. See also bowfront.

Also called demilune, semilunar, or semicircular.

Bombé

Convex, rounded or swollen surfaces on the front and sides of a piece of case furniture. Generally the swelling is located in the lower half of the case.

Also called kettle, swell'd, or swelled.

Oxbow

Concave center section flanked by convex outer sections on the front of a piece of case furniture. See serpentine-front for the opposite profile.

Also called oxbow front or reverse serpentine.

Bowfront

Convex, curved surface on the front or top front edge of a piece of furniture. See also Demi-lune.

Also called bow front, bow-front, bowed front, round-front, or round front.

Serpentine-front

Convex center section flanked by concave outer sections on the front of a piece of case furniture. See oxbow for the opposite profile.

Breakfront

Raised or projecting center section on the front of a piece of case furniture.

Also called break-front or broken front.

Straight-front

Flat surface on the front of a piece of furniture.

Also called flat-front.