A dandy shoe maker in a fright, or, The effects of tight lacing [graphic]

"A shoemaker in dandy costume (cf. British Museum Satires No. 13029) grasps the leg of the lady whose shoe he is fitting; he exclaims: "O! I shall faint! the lacing of my Stays have broke and I shall be undone." The lady, who is pretty and very décolletée, sits on a sofa. She exclaims to a maid who stands behind the shoemaker (right): "Susan what is the Creature about? he's taking liberties with me!" She answers: "Why Madam he has got a pair of Ladies Stays on"; stay-laces are flying up between his narrow coat-tails. On a table (right) are a pair of laced boots and a pair of flat slippers. Beside a window draped with curtains stands a vase of cut flowers on a high tripod."--British Museum online catalogue