Life, 1920-02-05 · page 39 of 52
Life — February 5, 1920 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **luxury advertisement**, not political satire. W. & J. Sloane, a high-end furniture and rug company, is advertising ornamental Kirman rugs featuring biblical imagery. The page displays a decorative "picture rug" depicting Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac—a famous Old Testament scene. The advertisement emphasizes the rug's Eastern origin and authentic craftsmanship, marketing it to wealthy interior decorators and collectors of antique Eastern art. The copy's tone is aspirational and exclusive, promising custom rugs "of any desired dimension, design, or color" and boasting of the company's ability to reproduce antique designs so convincingly that only experts can distinguish modern from authentic pieces. This last detail—the admission they can deceive buyers—is presented as a selling point rather than criticized, reflecting early 20th-century attitudes toward luxury goods and consumer sophistication. There is no political cartoon or satire present on this page.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THIS ISA “PICTURE” RUG OF KIRMAN WEAVE DEPICTING ABRAHAM ABOUT TO SACRIFICE ISAAC Our collections also embrace Ghiordes, Koula, Ferraghan and other famous weaves coveted by lovers of early Eastern art. E are also the Mecca for Antique and Modern Oriental Carpets, searching the East for its most ancient examples, and evolving from our own looms designs inspired by the antique, and so faithfully reproduced as to conceal their modern origin from all but the practised eye. ———") / Rugs of any desired dimension, design, or color, woven to meet your special requirements. “Thus our assortments are bounded, not by what we have, but by what you want. SS es Just specify your particular needs; our facilities are at your service. W. & J. SLOANE Direct Importers of Eastern Rugs Interior Decorators Floor Coverings and Fabrics Purniture Makers FIFTH AVENUE AND FORTY-SEVENTH STREET, NEW YORK WASHINGTON, D. C SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, a —— om Se oe comicbooks.com