- Museum number
- 1932,0226.12
- Title
- Object: The bum shop
- Description
-
Two fashionably dressed shopmen supply ladies with pads to extend their dresses at the back. Two other ladies have already been fitted; a fifth, who is buxom, sits on a stool clasping an inflated specimen at which she smiles with satisfaction. Various types of these pads or 'derrières' hang on the wall, and a pile lies on the ground (right). A dog, shaved in the French manner showing very thin hindquarters, is begging. Beneath the title is engraved: 'Derriere begs leave to submit to the attention of that most indulgent part of the Public the Ladies in general, and more especially those to whom Nature in a slovenly moment has been niggardly in her distribution of certain lovely Endowments, his much improved (aridæ nates) or Dried Bums so justly admired for their happy resemblance to nature. Derriere flatters himself that he stands unrivalled in this fashionable article of female Invention, he having spared neither pains nor expence in procuring every possible information on the subject, to render himself competent to the artfully supplying this necessary appendage of female excellence.' 11 July 1785
Etching with hand-colouring
- Production date
- 1785
- Dimensions
-
Height: 330 millimetres
-
Width: 458 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VI, 1938)
A reversion to the fashion which produced the 'cork-rump', see BMSat 5381, &c. The 1785 model, however, is an inflated petticoat, resembling part of a crinoline and is adapted to a less formal type of dress than that of 1776-7. It was described as a 'fashionable circumvallation of tow and whalebone'. 'Town and Country Mag.', 1787, p. 538. It was balanced by a gauze projection covering the breast. The extravagance of these fashions was long remembered, Southey describes them in 1807: 'there were protuberances on the hips called bustlers, another behind which was called in plain language a rump, and a merry-thought of wire on the breast to puff out the handkerchief like a pouting pigeon.' 'Letters of Espriella', ii. 335. See BMSat 7099, &c.
Described by Angelo, 'Reminiscences', 1904, i. 326-7, who attributes it to Rushworth, a counsellor. Reproduced, Fuchs, 'Die Frau in der Karikatur', 1906, p. 284.
(Supplementary information)
This print is described by Henry Angelo in his 'Reminiscences' ed.1904, I pp.326-7; he states that the design was supplied by one Rushworth, a counsellor.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
2002 Jan-Mar, Newcastle, Hatton Gall, Followers of Fashion
2002 Jun-Jul, Belfast, Ulster Mus, Followers of Fashion
2002 Aug-Sep, Nottingham, Djanogly AG, Followers of Fashion
2002/3 Dec-Feb, Brighton MAG, Followers of Fashion
2003 Apr-Jun, Braintree District Mus, Followers of Fashion
- Acquisition date
- 1932
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1932,0226.12
