Life, 1906-12-06 · page 5 of 64
Life — December 6, 1906 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **not a political cartoon**—it's an advertisement for Teco Pottery, a commercial product line manufactured by The Gates Potteries in Chicago. The page showcases various ceramic vessels with product numbers and prices, ranging from $4 to $25. The central text celebrates Teco pottery as "the most serious contribution that America has yet made to the eternal art of the world," using hyperbolic language typical of early 20th-century advertising. The "satire" here is commercial rather than political: Life magazine is ironically praising mass-produced American pottery with grandiose language usually reserved for fine art, playing on American pride and commercial ambition. The page includes purchase information and a holiday gift suggestion ("A TECO CHRISTMAS"). This reflects Life's role as both satirical publication and advertising vehicle.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
177, By F. Albett. Daring Iris Theme. 22 inchey in height: $25.00 252. By H. M. G. Garden. Vase of lamp slight teacery, 12 inches 336, By F. Albert. For white daisies or gohlen-rod. 8 inches in height: $4,00 G,500. By William D. Gates. Mision Loving Cup of lamp base. Of height 9 inches: $10.00 ee 283. By F. Albert. Pom- 269, By W.B. Mundie. Of 271. By W. B. Mundie. Peian; g inches high: $5.00 height 11 inches: $800 Diameter, 10 inches: $10.00 TECO POTTERY is the most serious contribution that America has yet made to the eternal art of the world. “Tris the clearest note yet sounded by this commercial hemisphere in the symphony of universal beauty. «Tt is the most vigorous, and will prove to be one of the most reverberating, of the syl- lables in which America has sought to give utterance to her immature national xstheticism. «Teco is really the harmonic and intelligible voice of America at her best—a divine melody of curve and color, ««We are privileged among many generations; we have been at the birth of a new and everlasting classic.’” Tavs Wartrs 4 Treo Extitestast, COLOR: Teco Garren is a tone not easily classified by colorists, and is far too elusive for description, Cool, peaceful, healthful, it isa happy and unobtrusive color to live with. TEXTURE. The surface of Treo is equally difficult to indicate in words. Ttis itself DESIGNS: The Teco contours, so famous for purity of line, are not the work of dependent artisans nor of employed designers ‘The great things in’art are never done for money, and many of the finest of the Teco conceptions have slipped. fre somercclebrated pencil almost by accident, i seemed. New shapes ate constantly being added and each piece bears ” TECO is the Gift among Gifts in every case where inherent beauty and merit may expect to receive intelligent aj jation. hase Teco in your own city f posible. Personal examination will be an added pleasure and immediate possesion may be desirable. “Teco is sold d Burns Mills Co., 36 E. Twenty-first St. Philadel phia: J. Caldwell & Co., go2 Chestnut St. Washington, D. C... Dulin & Martin Co. 1215 F St. Pittsburgh: Hamilton & Clark Co., 416 Penn Ave. ge W. Bensoy 36 Main St. Hamition & Clark Co., 126 Fourth s ‘im. A. French Co., Sixth and Cedar Minneapolis: John W. Thomas & Co., Les Angeles: Barker Bros.. 420, y New Orleans: John Gauches s Louisville: The Arts and Crajts Co., 638 Fourth Ave. Atlanta: Davis & Freeman, 47 Whitehall St. Mobile: Julius Goldstein, 5 So. Royal St. Indianapolis: Arts and 4 Cralts Society, 21 E. Ohio St. Nashville: K. P. Wright, Belmont | ‘Place. Montreal: Paul Beau & Co., St. Catherine St. I pare Quebec News Co.. 27 Buade St. Berlin, Germany: Friedman & Weber, Koniggrateer Hamburg, Germany: M. Herz, Neuerwall, 5. jtrasse. O. And by the best store in each of about 509 other cities. Teco may also be ordered by mail. to be shipped direct from the Potteries The new TECO PORTFOLIO, de luxe, very simple yet very costly, and showing nearly one hundred pieces, will be forwarded upon proper application to The GATES POTTERIES, 645 Chamber of Commerce, Chicago. WHY NOT MAKE IT It has no gloss, is not rough, nor yet solidly smooth, St. Petersburg, Russia: Alexandre Nevsky, No. 11. Chicags Marshall Field & Co. Brookiyn: Abraham & Straus. San Francisco: Shreve & Co. Denver: Daniels & Fisher. Newport: Herman's Jewdry Store, Thames St. St. Louis: Scruggs, Vandevoort & Barney. Baltimore: The Gijts Shop, Waltert Hetd. Cleveland: C. A. Setser, Euclid Ave. and Erie St. Seattle: C. W. Parker & Co., 74 First Ave. Omaha: H. P. Whitmore, 1517 Dodge St. 38S By W.D. Gates. For the Master's cigars. 4 inches high: $4.00 By F. Albert. Punch Bowl; unusually omate Teco . Heavy white glaze withit 265, By Max Dunning. For Mission interior. 12 high: $12.00 Y 297. By N. Forester. Hel- lenic vase; a favorite. s inches in height: $6.00 (250. By William D. Gates. Lamp base; simplicity ideal- Of height 10 inches: inches ized. $5.00 | 134, By F. Albert. Lilies in low relief. 13 inches in height: $8.00 287. By W. B. Mundie. Vase of lamp base. 7 in. high: $5.00; 15 in.. $20.00 comicbooks.com