Design for a Rectangular Dining Table on Ball-Shaped Feet

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

Step into the elegant world of early 20th-century American furniture design with *Design for a Rectangular Dining on Ball-Shaped Feet by the A.N. Davenport Co., between 1900 and 1905. This piece, housed in the Smithsonian American Art's Smithsonian Collection, represents craftsmanship of a prominent Massachusetts-based manufacturer known for producing high-quality furnishings during a time of industrial innovation and revival styles. Generously gifted by The Lake St. Louis Historical Society, exemplifies the era's blend of functionality and ornamentation in domestic design. The design showcases a sturdy rectangular tabletop supported by distinctive ball-shaped feet—a classical motif evoking stability and grace, often seen in period revivals like Colonial or Renaissance influences. As a furniture design rather than a finished object, it highlights the planning process behind mass-produced yet refined pieces destined for American dining rooms, where family gatherings centered around such substantial tables. Though research continues, this artifact offers a window into turn-of-the-century domestic life, underscoring how companies like A.N. Davenport bridged artisanal traditions with emerging modern production techniques. A testament to everyday luxury, it invites us to appreciate the thoughtful details that shaped American homes.