Which top decorative element on a Baroque chair is called what?

• A. Cartouche
• B. Rosette
• C. Medallion
• D. Frieze

Answer: (A)

In Baroque furniture, the prominent top ornament on the back of a chair is a cartouche. This term refers to a shield- or tablet-shaped panel framed with ornate scrolling and acanthus motifs, often acting as the crest that crowns the chair’s back. It embodies the dramatic, highly decorative Baroque style and is the focal point you’d expect to see at the very top center.

The other motifs are used in different ways: a rosette is a small floral motif that acts as a decorative accent, not the main crest; a medallion is a circular or oval disk that can appear within a panel but isn’t the typical top crest itself; a frieze is a horizontal decorative band along the edge, not the central top ornament.