Coot3) The knowledge required to produce the object must have existed. This is trickier - a 19th century "Arts & Crafts" style chair could have been made in the 18th century as all of the materials (wood said:
Excellent point---and one that is the most difficult to achieve, in my opinion. If one aims for any sort of historical accuracy, then you must try to 'get into the head' of the person or people you are looking to emulate. Dropping modern preconceived notions, the "if they'd a-had it they'd a-used it", and the "folks back then weren't stupid, if I have this idea they must have had it too" embellishments to history is tough to do. Doing the research into what they did have, and the attitudes and knowledge of the times that kept them from, what in hindsight seems to us to be common sense ideas, and sticking to what we know for sure is admittedly difficult.
People of all areas/eras are perverse and contrary creatures. What we think should be just common sense, to them might be utterly ridiculous. Hindsight's 20/20, but that doesn't make it historically correct. I haven't done any research into it, but if it's true colorado clyde's story of the can opener lagging far behind the metal can is a good one. Cans are easily opened with a knife, if you've got a knife then what on earth do you need a can opener for?
In other words, neccessity is the mother of invention, conversly if there is no need for a particular item, then it may not get invented, no matter how neccessary we might think it is today. Don't try to put your 21st century ideas into the head of your 18th or 19th century persona.
Rod
