Lot 157: 19th Century British Political Cartoon for 1886 Municipal Elections
A framed and glazed monochrome political cartoon printed in ink on paper, dated 19 July 1886. The illustration is titled Political Caricatures for 1886 and references municipal conflicts between Liberal groups. The scene depicts a domestic dispute set within an interior with a man in a peaked cap and a woman wearing an apron inscribed with Liberty. The dialogue at the bottom of the print reads: The Mistress of the House — Oh, n-n-no I-I-I’m not afraid of you . . . I-I…I’m not under your thumb . . . I-I-m qui-quite independant of you. Smaller handwritten-style captions appear throughout the scene, including text near the man’s head and on the wall behind him. The work features heavy cross-hatching and satirical characterisations typical of late Victorian periodical illustration. It is mounted within a large green mat with a gold-tone bevelled edge and housed in a polished wooden frame with a decorative burl-patterned veneer. A clear adhesive tape remnant is visible on the right side of the glazing.
Condition report:
The paper shows significant overall toning and yellowing consistent with age (photo 1). A small section of clear tape or plastic film is adhered to the right side of the glass (photo 1). The wooden frame exhibits some minor scuffs and abrasions to the edges and corners (photo 1). The green mat and gold inner border appear intact without visible fading or stains.
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