INTR 20400: HISTORY OF INTERIORS AND FURNITURE
TIMELINE RESEARCH PROJECT
OBJECTIVE
You are a designer who incorporates historic precedent and inspiration into design solutions for your
clients. The design portfolio you will create shows current furniture pieces and comparable historic
pieces that inspired them. If your client is intrigued by design styles of the Middle Ages, for example,
but does not want an authentic, antique period room, you will propose a current piece that has
inspiration of the Middle Ages.
Your complete portfolio will be a timeline featuring a specific furniture type, such as beds for example.
For each time period studied in class, your timeline will include an historic example and a comparable
contemporary example, describing and illustrating characteristics for each.
REQUIREMENTS

Select one specific type of furniture item to follow consistently throughout time periods studied in
class. Examples from which to choose are: bed, chest, side chair, arm chair, stool, dining table,
side table.

Submit your proposed furniture item to the instructor during the Introductory module for approval
to proceed.

In each corresponding time period during the course, prepare a timeline entry for this furniture
item. For example if your selected furniture item is the ‘bed’, prepare a timeline entry in the
Egyptian module showing both an historic and a contemporary bed in the Egyptian style.
Likewise, follow the same idea for beds in both the Greek and Roman time periods, and so on
throughout the semester. At the end of the semester you will be able to compile these into a
complete timeline to submit as your design portfolio.
For each time period, use the attached Project Template and include the following for your
selected furniture item: (numbers below refer to corresponding components in the example found in
Oncourse ‘Resources’ and in the Project Template)
1) Dates of the period (use date ranges exactly as listed below in the grading rubric found at the end of this
document, these are date ranges used in the textbook)
2) Graphic examples of representative motif(s) of the period (refer to ‘Design Motifs’ in the text and the ‘Design
Motifs’ presentation in the course module).
3) Photograph or line drawing of an historic furniture piece authentic to the dates of the time period, along with
the following:
4) Accompanying 100-200 word bulleted description of (a.) physical characteristics using accurate and
descriptive terminology from course material, (b.) the piece’s usage in the context of the time period, and (c.)
development of its design as compared to the previous periods’ pieces (note: this last component addressing
development will apply to all entries after Egyptian).
5) Contemporary Application of Historic Precedent: photograph of a similarly functional current (21st century)
piece that shows comparable or related design characteristics influenced by the original, along with an,
6) Accompanying 100-200 word bulleted description of (a.) physical characteristics from the historic time period
relating to those of the selected current piece and (b.) the contemporary piece’s usage in modern living.
7) A second page with references of all sources, including those of images and text (not necessary to include for
motifs).
Supplementary requirements:

Time periods are listed in the project rubric below.

Drafts of time period entries are due in the Canvas ‘Timeline Project Folder’ found under ‘People’, to
include all required components not necessarily in their final, finished format. Check due dates for
each draft as well as the final project in the course Grades.

The final project consists of all draft entries with all necessary revisions compiled into ONE single
document with a cover page that includes project title, name, date, and furniture piece.
1. Images:
a. Furniture images of historic pieces must be of a period piece (authentic) - not a reproduction or a
later inspiration.
i.
Its date of origin must be provided by the resource used and must be within the
appropriate time period as listed in the project rubric below. This is how you can be certain
that it accurately falls within the time period.
b. Corresponding 21st century pieces must be currently manufactured and available for direct
purchase or ordering, as indicated by its resource. These may also be personally found and
photographed at a retail source. They may not be one-of-a-kind pieces for sale by an antique dealer
or auction. In other words, you and ten of your clients should all be able to purchase one.
2. Descriptions:
a. Written descriptions are in your own words, not quoted directly from source. Any resource may be
used for these and cited in the project.
b. Descriptions of historic pieces will reference previous period characteristics to indicate design trends
or differences from previous period characteristics.
c.
Colors, textiles, and decorative ornamentation may optionally be addressed or illustrated.
d. Proper spelling and grammar must be used in all writing.
3. Format:
a. PowerPoint or Word should be used to format your project. It may be saved as an Adobe file to
preserve formatting.
b. Graphic presentation should consider a pleasing arrangement of illustrations with accompanying text
and motifs, as well as overall design aesthetic of the page.
c.
Motifs may be shown as a single unit or implemented within the graphic format for each entry, such
as in a border in the example found in Canvas ‘Files’.
d. A title page should be a graphically interesting introduction to your research topic with project title,
name, date, and the furniture piece studied.
4. References:
a. References will be identified separately for each time period entry on a page directly following each
entry. For example, all Egyptian entry references will be shown on one page in alphabetic order.
b. Photos of historic pieces are NOT to come from the course textbook, however the text may be used
as a reference for background information and ideas of resources to use. University Library has
several books on reserve for this class at the checkout desk.
c.
Historic images may be of actual pieces or drawings, and should be scanned from print sources.
Except for museum web sites, other electronic sources may NOT be used for historic research. If a
web site is used for this information, it MUST be a legitimate museum and have ‘Museum’ or similar
in the website name and must have supporting documentation for individual pieces used, including
object dates and origin. Examples of acceptable websites are the “Victoria and Albert Museum’ and
the ‘Minneapolis Institute of Arts’.
d. Resources used for contemporary pieces must be the piece’s manufacturer or a retailer that sells
it, i.e. it must include necessary information to purchase the piece. These resources may be online
websites or print.
e. All references, including text and images, will be documented using either MLA or APA reference
guidelines. See the OWL Resource in Canvas ‘Files’ for style guidelines and examples of
documenting electronic resources and personal photographs. In addition to MLA or APA
requirements, include the complete website address of the photo or information referenced.
(Grading Rubric with date ranges follows on next page)
GRADING RUBRIC
Key:
+ Excellent (A-range)
+ Good (B-range)
Time Period and
Period Dates
Egyptian
3000 BCE – 500 BCE
Greek
1000 BCE - 0
Roman
500 BCE – 500 CE
Middle Ages
500 CE – 1400 CE
Choose one:
Italian Renaissance
1400 – 1600 CE
Or
Spanish Renaissance
1500 – 1600 CE
Or
English Renaissance
1500 – 1660 CE
Or
French Renaissance
1515 – 1610 CE
Choose one:
French Baroque
1610 – 1715 CE
Or
English Baroque
1660 – 1702 CE
 Average (C-range)
– Below Average (D-range)
Selection of
Historic
Piece
Contemporary
Application of
Current Piece
–
Unacceptable (F-range)
Written
Descriptions
Points
(maximum 7)
Choose one:
Early American Colonial
1640 – 1720 CE
Or
Late American Colonial
1720 – 1785 CE
Choose one:
French Rococo
1715 – 1774 CE
Or
English Rococo
1702 – 1760 CE
Choose one:
Early French Neoclassic
1774 – 1792 CE
Or
Early English Neoclassic
1760 – 1811 CE
References:
Selection of sources and
citation format
(maximum 10)
Graphic Presentation
(maximum 10)
Written Composition Quality
(content, spelling, grammar)
(maximum 10)
Proposed Finalized Entry
submitted for feedback
(maximum 7)
Total (maximum 100)
Comments: