Design for Sideboard with Glass Door Cabinet Above
October 25, 1900
Classification
furniture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of The Lake St. Louis Historical Society
Accession Number
2000-69-54
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant design drawing, titled *Design for Sideboard with Door Cabinet Above*, comes from the A.N. Davenport Co., prominent American furniture manufacturer, dated precisely to October 25, 1900. It depicts a practical yet refined piece of dining room furniture: a sturdy sideboard topped with a glass-door cabinet ideal for displaying fine china or glassware. Such designs were essential in turn-of-the-century homes, storage functionality with decorative appeal to enhance domestic life. Created at the dawn of the 20th, this work reflects the era's emphasis on well-crafted household goods amid America's growing industrial prosperity. Furniture companies like A.N. Davenport specialized in custom architectural woodwork and cabinetry, often commissioned for affluent residences. The inclusion of a glass-fronted upper cabinet highlights innovative features for visibility and protection, showcasing evolving tastes in American interior design during a transitional period between Victorian opulence and emerging modern simplicity. Now part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection—thanks to a gift from the Lake St. Louis Historical Society—this piece awaits further research, offering visitors a glimpse into the blueprint stage of furniture creation. It reminds us how everyday objects embodied craftsmanship and cultural values of their time.