Which French term designates a plain or carved wood-paneled wall in white with gilded carvings?

Which French term designates a plain or carved wood-paneled wall in white with gilded carvings?

• A. Paneling with plaster relief
• B. Wainscot
• C. Boiserie
• D. Gilded paneling

Answer: (C)

This item tests the French term for carved wood paneling applied to walls, typically finished white with gilded carvings. Boiserie denotes wood panels—plain or richly carved—that cover a wall, and in French interiors of the Baroque and Rococo periods these panels were often painted white with gilded ornament to create a striking contrast and highlight the carving. This combination of material (wood) and treatment (white background with gold details) is exactly what boiserie describes, making it the best fit for the description. Paneling with plaster relief would use plaster rather than wood. Wainscot is an English term for wall paneling in general, not specifically the French tradition or the gilded, carved aesthetic. Gilded paneling refers to gold surfaces, but doesn’t inherently specify the carved wood paneling on white, a defining feature of boiserie.

This item tests the French term for carved wood paneling applied to walls, typically finished white with gilded carvings. Boiserie denotes wood panels—plain or richly carved—that cover a wall, and in French interiors of the Baroque and Rococo periods these panels were often painted white with gilded ornament to create a striking contrast and highlight the carving. This combination of material (wood) and treatment (white background with gold details) is exactly what boiserie describes, making it the best fit for the description.

Paneling with plaster relief would use plaster rather than wood. Wainscot is an English term for wall paneling in general, not specifically the French tradition or the gilded, carved aesthetic. Gilded paneling refers to gold surfaces, but doesn’t inherently specify the carved wood paneling on white, a defining feature of boiserie.