Life, 1928-05-10 · page 7 of 50
Life — May 10, 1928 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Gorham silverware advertisement**, not a political cartoon. The page promotes the "Mothers" pattern of sterling silver flatware, marketed as "Colonial Beauty—Chaste and Unadorned." The ad emphasizes the pattern's authenticity as a copy of hand-wrought colonial silver, positioning it as an heirloom quality product suitable for modern Colonial-style homes. The visual shows two spoons—one solid black (representing the original antique) and one detailed (the Mothers pattern reproduction)—demonstrating the design's fidelity to historical precedent. The text targets affluent buyers seeking Americana authenticity, noting Mother's Day (May 13th) as the ideal gift occasion. Pricing for teaspoons, steak sets, and salad sets is provided. This reflects mid-20th-century marketing that capitalized on colonial revival aesthetics and nostalgia.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
@ COLONIAL BEAUTY Chaste and Unadorned If you found this pattern in an antique shop, or in some old New England homestead, you would count it a discovery of first importance. In design, crafts- manship, finish, the Mothers pattern faithfully re- flects each minute characteristic that marks the de- lightful hand-wrought silver of our forefathers. Mothers is, in fact, an authentic copy of a very old, very fine hand-wrought pattern. In every aspect but age it is an antique—the treasured heirloom of tomorrow. With so rich a Colonial background it is only natural that Mothers should blend gracefully with the modern Colonial home. 7 It is produced in Sterling silver by the Gorham MOTHER'S DAY IS MAY 13th Master Craftsmen in complete Dinner and Tea Sets. What could be more appropriate than a Gift of Especially recommended as gifts to lovers of Ameri- cana are: Teaspoons—$10 for 6; Steak Set—$15 for 3 pieces; Salad Set—$14 for 2 pieces. Your jeweler will show you these pieces as well as many other Gorham patterns. GORHAM PROVIDENCE, R. 1. NEW YORK, N. Y. MEMBER OF THE STERLING SILVERSMITHS GUILD OF AMERICA “Whatever your taste—whatever your favorite period — you will find among Gorham's 27 patterns in Sterling a silver service to harmonize" AMERICA’S LEADING SILVERSMITHS FOR OVER 90 YEARS comicbooks.com