boiserie (BWUZZ΄-ree)

               In French, boiserie means ‘wood paneling’ in general, but in English, the word usually refers to a style of paneling used in the 17^th- and 18^th-century palaces and noble residences of Europe.

                Boiserie of this type consists of large panels of fine wood (such as oak or mahogany) painted or stained in various colors and carved with decoration in shallow relief.

                In the Rococo style (18^th century), the paneling was often painted white, with the decoration picked out in gold.

                Society columnist Aileen Mehle (who writes under the pen name "Suzy"), used the term in describing a change of apartments:

                               “I would have to move, leaving behind a large duplex with a ballroom, magnificent boiserie, a fireplace of marble and lustrous carved wood, and, most memorably, two floor-to-ceiling paintings....”  (Architectural Digest, January 2012)

                You, too, can use the word to garner snob appeal by tossing out comments like this:

                                 "We have three maids.  One of them spends all her time polishing the dining room boiserie."

Photo of rare French boiserie from late 17th century