Shown above are early models at Nääs, which I photographed on an original workbench in the Sloyd woodworking building. You will recognize the flower pot stand as being a project Clear Spring students are working on now. The lower photo is of a picture frame made using a half-lap or "halved" joint like the one used in the flower pot stand. You find these frames in use throughout the Nääs campus faming photos of graduating classes and school activities. In most Sloyd work, decoration of the finished object was discouraged, but on these frames, the interesting knife-point carved-motif created a rustic, rough wood appearance in what was essentially very fine, highly-skilled work. The small gaps and misalignment are the result of over 100 years of seasonal expansion and contraction.

At one point, years before administrators at Nääs reawakened to its history as a Sloyd school, thousands of early models were hauled out and burned. Fortunately, some of the early models were saved and the unique history of Nääs is now appreciated and preserved.