Definition: a carved or sculpted human figure - usually female - used as a decorative support in furniture (table legs, bed posts, cabinet stands, etc.); derived from ancient Greek architecture and named for the women of Caryae (on the losing side of a war, they were enslaved by the Greeks and forced to carry heavy burdens on their heads, according to legend); in modern furniture, use of the form dates from the Renaissance, but flourished in Empire, Regency and other ornate Neoclassical furniture styles of the late 18th and early 19th century
Pronunciation: care-ee-ah-tid
Also Known As: atlas (a variation: a male figure)
Example: The ornate Empire sideboard featured a marble top and legs adorned with caryatids.