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Summary and Objective
By comparing and contrasting the chests of the Connecticut River valley, students will understand that craftsmen placed their own artistic stamp on their work.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Introduce the idea that furniture styles are particular to time periods, fashion, and the artistic eye of the maker. Tell them that they will be looking at chests. First, they will study one to introduce to the rest of the group; then, together, they will look at all the chests to compare and contrast.
Step 2.
Divide the class into 9 groups and give each group a picture of a chest. Ask students to think about the object. Who do they think made it and for whom? When? What might it be used for? What is it made from? What are their questions about their furniture?
Step 3.
Pass out the accompanying text and have students chart their information to be shared with the group. Supply a map of western MA and CT so that students may place markers to represent where their chest was made and used. How far did chests travel from their origin to where they were found?
Step 4.
Ask students look at the surface decoration on the chests. What sort of embellishments do they see? Is color added ? Has something been added or taken away?
Step 5.
Gather students back together and have them place their chests on a time line. Beginning with the oldest, have groups share the information about their chest with the rest of the class.
Step 6.
As students look at all the chests, ask them to identify the similarities and differences in style, construction and then in surface treatment. Why do they think these occur? What factors might influence change? What would they say about the change in styles over the years?
Step 7.
If they were designing a chest today, what would theirs look like? What would they store in it? How might that influence the design? What other factors could influence their designs. Students could sketch out their designs.
Step 8.
Students could search the website or internet for more information on furniture makers, tools used in its production, or chests of a later period or area to compare.
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