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Glite Dictionary
buhl

buhl

9.9
Inlaid decoration on furniture using tortoiseshell and thin metal in scroll designs
  • noun
  • /buːl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : buhl

Examples

  • Perhaps it was the vicar's desire to stave off such a chilly demise that brought him tiptoeing to the door of Olivia's room just as the buhl clock on the mantelpiece struck one.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The antique table was beautifully adorned with buhl, a delicate pattern of tortoiseshell and gold.

  • Craftsmen often utilize buhl to enhance the elegance of modern furniture with intricate inlaid designs.

  • The museum displayed a stunning piece of furniture featuring buhl, showcasing its fine scrollwork and artistry.

Synonyms

boulle
vsbuhl
  • Archaic
9.9

A decorative inlay on furniture made from tortoiseshell and brass in curved scroll patterns

focuses on various yellow or white metals rather than brass alone
boule
vsbuhl
  • Archaic
9.9

A fancy wood decoration using tortoiseshell and metal in curved patterns

is used more generally on furniture, not only in fine cabinetwork

Surface Forms

buhl singular
buhls plural

Etymology

The word buhl comes from the name of a famous French furniture maker, Boulle, who decorated pieces with 'tortoiseshell' and thin strips of metal set into scrolling designs. So buhl now means that same kind of inlaid decoration on furniture.