Design for Sideboard of Mahogany with Serpentine Front
1900â05
Classification
furniture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of The Lake St. Louis Historical Society
Accession Number
2000-69-20
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant *Design for Sideboard of Mahogany with Serpentine Front* comes from the A.N. Davenport Co., a prominent Boston-based furniture manufacturer known for crafting high-quality pieces in the early 20th century. Dated between 1900 and 1905, this design reflects the turn-of-the-century American interest in revival styles, blending classical elegance with practical domesticity. Sideboards like this served as multifunctional storage in dining rooms, holding silverware, linens, and serving ware while doubling as display surfaces for fine china. The serpentine front—a graceful, undulating c...