Design for Table with Flush-Back Newspaper Rack

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

Step into the early 1900s with this intriguing *Design for Table with Flush-Back Newspaper Rack* by the A.N. Davenport Co., a prominent American furniture manufacturer active around the turn of the century. Created between 1900 and 1905, this piece represents a blueprint or concept for a multifunctional table that ingeniously incorporates a flush-back rack for newspapers, blending utility with everyday elegance. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, it highlights the era's focus on practical home furnishings. At a time when American homes were evolving with the rise of mass-produced yet stylish domestic goods, Davenport's design exemplifies the transition toward versatile furniture suited for reading nooks or libraries. The flush-back feature—allowing newspapers to sit neatly without protruding—speaks to the period's emphasis on streamlined functionality, possibly nodding to emerging Mission or Craftsman influences that prized solid craftsmanship over ornamentation. Though the medium remains unidentified amid ongoing research, its classification as furniture underscores its role in shaping modern living spaces. Generously gifted by The Lake St. Louis Historical Society, this artifact invites us to ponder how simple innovations like a newspaper rack reflected broader cultural shifts toward informed, leisurely home life. As research progresses, it promises deeper insights into Davenport's legacy in American design.