The name was applied to the decorative style by antiquarian connoisseurs in the early 19th century; the contemporary name was apparently lignum undulatum (Latin: "wavy wood"), Nathaniel Lloyd pointed out.
The framing technique was used from the 13th century onwards to clad interior walls,[5] to form choir stalls, and to manufacture moveable and semi-moveable furniture, such as chests and presses, and even the back panels of joined chairs.
Linenfold was developed as a simple technique to decorate the flat surfaces of the ubiquitous panels thus created.
This style of linenfold can be created using a plane and a pre-drawn pattern, with a little finishing chisel work required at each end.
Significantly, linenfold had no prototype in architectural practice:[6] the technique of the round scraper plane is also applicable to softer stone-cutting.