A Not Inconsiderable Personality

I am having a lot of fun trying to figure out what this early 1950s British ad is really trying to convey. Aside from their ultimate goal of having us all rush out and purchase many Tankraft Curly Pile Rugs.

“No matter where you place a Tankraft Curly Pile Rug it is in keeping.” Well, except for in the fireplace, for example. Or on the seat of that rather uncomfortably low chair the model is sitting on.

Then they say how “extraordinary” it is that the Curly Pile Rug “loses its own not inconsiderable personality to become part of a whole.” What sort of personality do we mean here? Does the Curly Pile Rug do stand-up comedy? Is it opinionated? Paranoid, perhaps, that the fireplace seems to be imitating it in shape? (“That grate is making fun of me! And I hate the handles on top of it, get it away from me!”)

And yet they say that it loses its personality and – just like a faceless 1950s angst-ridden Everyman – blends into the crowd. Don’t do it, Curly Pile Rug! Be true to your fabulous personality!

But it lies there and lets some dame in high heels dig right in.

Still, it is 1951. Lie low until the mid-sixties, little rug. Then you can run away from home and get dyed purple. Maybe somewhere out there, there’s going to be a commune for distressed furniture…Speaking of which, maybe you could come live at our house. As long as you don’t belt out too many Ethel Merman numbers late at night.