Design for Writing Table with Semi-Circular Back in Elevation and Plan

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

Step into the world of early 20th American furniture design with *Design for Writing Table with-Circular Back in Elevation and Plan* by A.N. Davenport., created between 1900 and 1905. This technical drawing presents a elegant writing table featuring a distinctive semi-circular back, rendered in elevation (front view) and plan (top view). Produced by the esteemed A.N. Davenport Company a prominent Massachusetts-based firm renowned for high-quality architectural woodwork and, it exemplifies the precision of period design documentation. At the turn of the century, such blueprints were essential tools for craftsmen, bridging architectural planning and bespoke furniture production. The semi-circular back suggests a nod to graceful, flowing forms influenced by emerging tastes in domestic interiors, possibly evoking the refined elegance of the Colonial Revival or early Arts and Crafts movements. As a gift from the Lake St. Louis Historical Society to the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, this piece offers a window into regional American craftsmanship and the evolution of home offices—spaces increasingly vital in an industrializing society. Though research continues, this artifact highlights the meticulous artistry behind everyday luxury, inviting us to appreciate the unseen labor that shaped America's Gilded Age homes.