Sponging Collection

A comic postcard from the 20th century depicts the vicar with an aspidistra in hand, sponging away, a humorous take on the household chore

Comic postcard, the vicar sponges his aspidistra Date: 20th century

Sponging Collection: Woman washing herself (pastel)

Woman washing herself (pastel)
LEF219152 Woman washing herself (pastel) by Degas, Edgar (1834-1917); Private Collection; Photo eLefevre Fine Art Ltd. London; French, out of copyright

Sponging Collection: The Naval Manoeuvres, Stray Jottings on an Ironclad (engraving)

The Naval Manoeuvres, Stray Jottings on an Ironclad (engraving)
1046531 The Naval Manoeuvres, Stray Jottings on an Ironclad (engraving) by Nash, Joseph (d.1922); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Naval Manoeuvres, Stray Jottings on an Ironclad)

Sponging Collection: The Military Tournament at the Agricultural Hall, Islington (engraving)

The Military Tournament at the Agricultural Hall, Islington (engraving)
1060092 The Military Tournament at the Agricultural Hall, Islington (engraving) by Dollman, John Charles (1851-1934) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Impact of wealth, Philips Galle, Hadrianus Junius, 1563

Sponging Collection: Lady in the Bath - Provocative

Lady in the Bath - Provocative
A rather saucy card showing a lady in the bath with the tagline: Why don t you come up an see me sometime? Date: circa 1940s

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

A comic postcard from the 20th century depicts the vicar with an aspidistra in hand, sponging away, a humorous take on the household chore. In contrast, a pastel painting shows a woman delicately washing herself, suggesting a more refined approach. The Naval Manoeuvres engraving from the same century reveals sailors sponging their ironclads, a necessary task for maintaining their ships. The Military Tournament at Agricultural Hall's engraving showcases a page from an ironmongery and hardware trade catalogue, featuring various sponges for sale. Hippocrates' Works, published in 1934, include an illustration of a sponge bath, emphasizing its therapeutic benefits. A color litho from the 1800s, Bathtime for Six Children, portrays racial stereotypes, while a provocative Lady in the Bath painting from Philips Galle and Hadrianus Junius' 1563 publication highlights the impact of wealth and luxury in bathing practices.