trepanele

Trepanele is a term used in some European languages to describe an object formed by three panels connected together, usually by hinges. In architectural and interior contexts, trepanele may denote a three-panel folding screen, a three-panel door or cabinet front, or a decorative paneling element used to partition a space. The exact usage varies by region and language.

In furniture and interior design, trepanele structures are valued for flexibility and ornamental potential: a three-panel screen can be folded to adjust light and privacy, while three-panel doors or cabinet fronts provide a broader surface that can be opened or closed as a unit. In art contexts, analogous three-panel works are commonly described as triptychs; trepanele is the language-specific analogue of that concept.

Materials for trepanele range from wood and wood veneer to metal or lacquered surfaces. Traditional examples include lacquered folding screens in East Asian styles and European wooden screens used in domestic interiors, though the term trepanele may be less common in English-language sources.

Etymologically, trepanele is generally built from roots meaning "three" and "panel" in the respective language. The concept overlaps with three-panel screens and triptychs, with variations in hinge arrangement and panel proportions across cultures.

Related concepts include triptych, folding screen, and three-panel doors.