One of a set with the same signature and imprint, see nos. 11609, 11610. A young woman stands in profile to the left, at a dressing-table, while a buxom ladies' maid laces a pair of long stays. She wears a boudoir cap tied under the chin, and holds a flat ruler-shaped stick under the stays in front to regulate the operation. The stays fit closely over a pair of plain knickerbockers, cf. No. 9608. The dressing-room is luxuriously furnished. The dressing-table is draped in muslin and has a swing-mirror. On it are toilet-articles, bottles (two inscribed 'milk of roses' and 'esprit de lavande'), a rosary, a mask, a ticket inscribed 'masquerade argyll street', and a lap-dog, looking at itself in the mirror. The furniture is ornamented with ormolu. A small hanging book-case with curtained glass doors hangs on the wall. A picture of a woman draped in a cloak, walking, with a landscape background, is inscribed 'morning'. On a console table is a chinese vase with a bouquet of roses. Jug, basin, &c, are on the ground beside a chair on which are boxes for toilet appliances. Heavy fringed curtains cover the window (left). 26 february 1810. Hand-coloured etching. Date: 1810. Dimensions: Height: 283 mm; ; Width: 225 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. Progress of the Toilet.-The Stays.-Plate 1. (BM 1868,0808.7910)
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