Is W. F. Lavaway supposed to be Laraway? The image does lead one to wonder what is going on in this picture. Perhaps the woman is showing the man how nicely she has polished the silver? I first thought the woman might be the maid since she is wearing an apron, but not sure.

kmb on 6th August 2021 @ 8:53am

He has quite the stern look and is sitting like an interrogator. She's handing the spoon back after she took it because it was so nice, meanwhile rubbing his leg with her foot to get herself out of the pickle she's in.

JKG on 6th August 2021 @ 9:39am

Community Silver was made by Oneida in New York.

L.E. on 6th August 2021 @ 11:12am

What a bizarre ad... which does not make me feel like buying silverware.

Kyle on 6th August 2021 @ 11:13am

I was unable to submit my first post. It must have had too many improper words in it. I learned about John Humphreys Noyes and his controversial communal ideas. When those failed, Oneida began production of silverware.

L.E. on 6th August 2021 @ 11:18am

Try searching John Humphreys Noyes and the Christian Utopia That Made Silverware for Proper Americans. The add might make a little more sense.
And remember, silverware was considered a gift for engaged couples.

L.E. on 6th August 2021 @ 11:25am

The word Polyamorous should go at the front of that title, but Arthur won't let me publish that word.

L.E. on 6th August 2021 @ 11:30am

Sorry about that LE, but if you saw the thousand comments a day left by Eastern European bots you would understand!

ArthurB on 6th August 2021 @ 11:41am

It was humorous trying to figure out how to post an article about the 1840's and get around the censorship of the 2020's.

L.E. on 6th August 2021 @ 1:16pm

Arthur, this has got to be one of the stranger posting you have chosen, and the number of comments proves it, but nothing definitive due to the ambivalence of the illustration. Good Fun Friday choice!

nels on 7th August 2021 @ 1:48pm