Assignment: Rod Thompson: 18th & 19th Furniture

Due Date: September 30, 2008
Instructor:Roderick Thompson
email: santospiritorestoration@yahoo.com


Assignment for final paper
Study entry #168 for the “Pompadour” high chest of drawers from the catalog by Morrison Heckscher. (American Furniture in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Late Colonial Period, Queen Anne and Chippendale Styles, v.@.,New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1985, pp. 258 - 260.) You have a photocopy of this text, but the original is on reserve in Bobst Library, 2nd basement, Level A. This will serve as the model for an analysis of and a comparison with a piece of furniture of your choice. The chosen piece may be a part of your own collection, or may come from another source, such as an antique shop, or auction preview. Based upon the catalog entry and your personal observations, make a comparison with the piece that you select.
You will see the high chest on the class visit to the Met on 29 July 2008, but you may also wish to stop and see it beforehand, if you intend to be at the museum. As I understand, Louise Devenish will give a tour there on 25 July. You may contact me for directions to locate the piece on your own time. Use the general format of the catalog entry in your analysis.

Evidently, pedigrees and detailed historic analysis may not pertain to the piece that you opt to study for this assignment, but the model will serve to allow the inclusion of such information, if it is available, or if you choose to undertake such research.
Wherever possible, corroborate your study materials , styles and construction with research materials such as citations and illustrations. Observations of existing conditions are critical to your conclusions, therefore surfaces and joints need to be inspected, as they have been by Heckscher in his entry. You may hypothesize about modifications and inconsistencies that you discover.

The completed assignment should be submitted at your earliest convenience, but no later than 30 September 2008. An emailed submittal will yield my email response. A mailed submittal with a self-addressed stamped envelope, sent to the address above will yield my response mailed back to you with your original paper. An Incomplete grade will be recorded and carried until 1 October 2008, as I await your assignment. If no assignment has been received by that date, a No Credit will take its place. If you have any questions, or points to raise, you can always reach me at the co-ordinates above.