Life, 1911-12-07 · page 85 of 112
Life — December 7, 1911 — page 85: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is not a cartoon but a **luxury goods advertisement** from Life magazine's pages. Reed & Barton, a prestigious American silversmith company, marketed sterling silver items as holiday gifts. The ad displays ornate silver pieces—candlesticks, teapots, trays, vases, clocks, and decorative boxes—arranged around central text. The headline "Simplifying the Gift Problem" addresses a relatable consumer concern: what to give during the holiday season. The pitch emphasizes that silver gifts are universally acceptable and available at "all prices moderate," attempting to position expensive luxury items as accessible solutions. Additional categories (jewelry, stationery, leather goods) broaden appeal. This reflects early 20th-century consumer culture, where mass-circulation magazines like Life promoted upscale merchandise to affluent readers. The ornate Victorian aesthetic suggests this is pre-1920s advertising, when such silverware represented status and refined taste.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
== Simplifying the Gift Problem HE selection of appropriate gifts for the holidays is pleasingly simplified by an in: spection of our unusual exhibit of Silverware— for “something in silver” is always acceptable, and here you will find endless variety in design and price to choose from. Our reputation for prcducing stnctly high- grade, well-made, sterling silver should add to your satisfaction in selecting and bestowing gifts of this character. Inspection cordially invited. EWELRY.—Pearls, diamonds, rubies and other gems in great variety, mounted in new and effective designs or combined in unusual groupings. ‘TATIONERY.—Engraved announcements, cards, etc., with desk accessones in profi EATHER GOODS.—Canes, umbrellas, crops and whips. All Prices: Moderate. Our ilustrated catalogue will be found useful aed interesting and will be eent upoa request REED & BARTON CO. Jewelers and Silversmiths Fifth Ave. and 32d St. 4 Maiden Lane New York comicbooks.com