A furniture foot, sometimes referenced as claw-and-ball, fashioned to represent a birds claw gripping a ball. They are often carved entirely of wood as seen in many Chippendale style furniture pieces. Examples featuring a metal claw gripping a glass ball are also common, especially in occasional tables and stools.
Where did claw feet come from?
In England, the ball-and-claw style of foot was used primarily during the Queen Anne period and faded in popularity as the Chippendale style came into vogue. In America, however, the ball-and-claw remained a popular decorative feature well into the 19th century.
: a foot on a piece of furniture shaped like a birds or animals claw grasping a ball.
What are claw feet made of?
Ball and Claw Foot Also known and claw-and-ball, this type of furniture foot looks similar to a birds claw clutching a ball. In Chippendale style furniture, they are often carved entirely of wood, but can also feature a metal claw and a glass ball.
Claw foot is a deformity of the foot. The joint of the toe that is closest to the ankle is bent upward, and the other joints are bent downward. The toe looks like a claw.
What is a Chippendale style?
Today, Chippendale style furniture generally refers to English furniture made in a modified Rococo style. Chippendales Rococo-influenced designs were in part a reaction to the staid formality of earlier periods. However, he adapted the elaborate French style for the somewhat less extravagant English market.