Arts and Sciences Documentation Questionnaire

 

Description

 What is the item you have made?

What country/culture is it from?

What time period is it from?

Background information

What was the inspiration for your item? A period item (either one you have seen in real life or photographs of one)? A picture in a period manuscript or painting? A written description in a period manuscript? A reproduction made by someone else? Your imagination? Write down the source of any ideas or inspiration for your project.

Materials

What materials did you use to make your item?

Are these the same as would have been used in the original?

How do you know? (list sources of information)

How do your choices compare with the materials that would have been used in the original?

Discuss the reasons for your choice of material(s) eg cost, availability, safety.

Have your choices affected the process or the results? eg green oak is easier to carve than white pine; linen and wool garments hang differently from synthetic fabrics.

Techniques of construction

Discuss how you made the item

What tools did you use?

Are these the same as would have been used in the original?

How do you know? (list sources of information)

How does this compare with the way the item would have been made originally? (both the techniques and the tools)

Discuss the reasons for your choice of technique(s) and tools eg safety, time constraints, expertise, affordability, legality.

Have your choices affected the process or the results? eg using an open fire will give a different result from using a gas burner.

Context

What was the intended use of your item?

What sort of person would have owned or used this object?

Did the overall design or choice of materials in the original(s) have any special significance?

Did the decoration on the original item(s) have any special significance? Examples would be heraldry, religious references, and wordplay or jokes in images or text on the item.

In the item you have made, have you copied an existing item fairly closely, or have you developed an original design based on what you know about similar period items?

Have you personalised the item in any way?

After the project

Have you used the item since you made it? Has it performed as intended/expected?

Have you modified it, or has it changed, since completion?

Would you do anything differently next time?

Do you have any advice to pass on to someone else making this item?