Mahogany: This is a richly grained hard wood and has been used in cabinet
making for more than 250 years. It was used in its solid form rather than a
veneer.
Maple: A pail, finely grained wood with the colour of honey. It has
associations with Scandinavia and America where it is widely used for
furniture. A popular wood for flooring because of its strong yet light
qualities.
Marquetry: The difference between marquetry and inlay is that marquetry
consists of hundreds of pieces of wooden veneer laid onto pine or oak and
covers the entire surface: none of the background is visible. Motifs vary
from geometric designs to intricate floral decoration.
MDF: Medium density fibre board. This consists of wood fibres bonded
together by resin. It is used in modern furniture and is strong and easy to
use.
Mitre: A method of joining two pieces of bevelled wood together to meet at
right angles. Often used in picture framing.
Modern Style: 1920-Onwards. Conceived by the modern movement of the 1920's
and 1930's, avant-garde designers used unconventional materials like tubular
steel and moulded laminates to enhance their use of angles and curves.
Individual designers and craftsman have since upheld the importance of
design in mass-production.
Modular: Furniture that is made in units so they can be arranged in
different configurations.
Moulding: Decorative strips of wood in relief applied to furniture to
emphasis a detail or add character.
Motif: A decorative theme or subject that runs through the whole design.
