Upholstery

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/upholstery

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the post-1850 innovations?Introduction of coil springs significantly advanced seating support and comfort
2. Why do people use springs in upholstery?Springs help support the seat and give extra bounce, making the furniture more comfortable.
3. How did upholstery change after 1850?After 1850, coil springs were added, and later foams like polyurethane were used, making seats softer and easier to make.

Upholstery: The craft and materials used to provide furniture with padding, springs, and fabric or leather coverings.
Upholder: An historical term for an artisan who made fabric furnishings, from which 'upholstery' is derived.
Coir: A coarse fiber extracted from the outer husk of a coconut, used historically as stuffing.
Hessian: A coarse, strong, loosely woven fabric made from jute, often used as a backing material in upholstery.