Life — December 2, 1920 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a Christmas gift advertisement for "The Vogue of Community Plate," a silverware brand. The page shows flatware (knife, forks, spoons) arranged formally against a dark background, topped with a classical female profile portrait. The heading "For Her Christmas" indicates this targets female gift-recipients. The text describes Community Plate as an affordable option for dining—prices ranging from $47 to $100 for complete sets, with special pieces available. The advertisement lists distinguished patrons' names (Mrs. O.H.P. Belmont, Robert Jordan, Lady Randolph Churchill, etc.), a common marketing tactic to suggest social prestige and endorsement by the wealthy. This is straightforward product advertising rather than political satire—typical of Life magazine's commercial content from this era.