Stump

Date Nineteenth century
Materials Rolled leather (suede), thin leather binding
Dimensions 11.0 cm x 0.5 cm
Marks
Further information GLAHA 54149.

Note This stump is from the collection of Whistler's artistic materials in the Hunterian Art Gallery. Stumps were used by artists working in charcoal, crayon, pastel, chalk and lithography to smooth, smudge and blend colour and prevent hard lines. This stump was made from leather rolled tightly into a stick shape and made to come to a point at both ends. Glasgow University owns a large number of stumps that originally belonged to Whistler. In his lithograph The Duet Whistler used a stump on the women’s dresses to give an even undertone and to suggest the softness of their hair.