Davenport (sofa)
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Davenport is the name a series of sofas made by the now-defunct Massachusetts furniture manufacturer A. H. Davenport Company. Due to the popularity of the furniture at the time, the name "Davenport" has become a genericized trademark. It is often used as a synonym for "sofa", especially in the Midwestern United States and in northern New York state. Specifically, it is used in the Adirondack Region and the Tug Hill Plateau, especially amongst those born there before World War II. The so-called Davenports of the northern New York region are often locally made sofa versions of the locally manufactured convertible Adirondack chair.
Among the younger generations, the word has come to mean a more formal sofa. In the Tug Hill and Adirondack regions in New York, a Davenport may refer especially to a couch which, like a modern futon lounge, converts on pivoting hinges from a sofa to a bed.
In other areas of North America, the word Davenport is used for a futon style sofa with storage under the seat area.
A similar word, Daveno, also refers to a sofa or couch. The term was more widely used in the 50s and 60s, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.
[edit] In popular culture
The 'Warren Zevon' song "Disorder in the House" features the line "I'm sprawled across the Davenport of despair".
The Boston chapter of the Robert Benchley Society is named "We've Come for the Davenport" from a reference to an incident in the life of Robert Benchley as recorded in his biography by Nathaniel Benchley.[1]
The American improvisational trio Happy Apple entitled a track "Mom got a new Davenport" on their album "part of the solutionproblem." The track is sixteen minutes in length and may be interpreted to have no concrete reference to the Davenport, hide-a-bed style sofa.
In the "Brian's Got a Brand New Bag" Episode of Family Guy The Davenport is referenced by Brian's love interest, Rita. Rita breaks the relationship with Brian and asks him to leave her key on the Davenport. Brian is confused and continues to put the key on several different pieces of furniture—none of which was a sofa—until he eventually gives up. This is most likely in reference to the historical use of the word and Rita being a woman of mature age.
[edit] References
- ^ Robert Benchley, a Biography (1955), Nathaniel Benchley, page 38.
[edit] See also
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