?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 400 - $ 600
(RACISM.) HOTTENTOT VENUS. A Pair of Broad-Bottoms. Hand-tinted engraving, 13 x 9 inches; with matting 18 x 12 inches; dry-mounted. London, late 18th century-early 19th
An uncommon political print, lampooning a coalition government of the 18th century known as the Broadbottoms. 'Well I never expected Broadbottoms from Africa. . .' one says; The other gentleman replies 'I shall be careful your Lordship, but such a spanker, it beats your Lordship's hollow.' The African woman with the exaggerated behind, is a South African Hottentot woman with a condition of the posterior common to several interrelated African tribal groups. Clearly exaggerated here, the image of the Hottentot was widely drawn and the woman became known as 'The Hottentot Venus.'
