Antiques are meant to be everyday items in your home that are usable, approachable and comfortable. Knowing a few basic terms can help you identify what you love and communicate that in your own shopping or designing process.  Our Antique Terminology Glossary is a list of terms commonly used in our shop but is just a starting place in a vast world of antiques. Abattant: a term used to describe a drop-down flap often seen in the French style of the antique secretary desk, secrétaire à abattant