Description:
Pair of woman's polychrome floral brocaded shoes. The brocaded pattern matches on both the vamps and heels (although a mirror image on the vamp). According to information at the time they entered the collection, these shoes were worn at Lafayette Ball in Newport ,1779. The buckles which fastened these shoes are likely for a man's breeches and not for a woman's shoes (and were given new numbers on 6/12/00, F.464.3 and F464.4). The brocaded fabric has a cream faille ground; the sole is brown leather. The toes have in a rounded point, and the latchets or straps have rounded ends. The heels have been cut down, and look out of proportion; and the iron nails in the heel are not characteristic of the eighteenth-century. There is also a drawstring near the throat, probably indicating wear at the time of the Colonial Revival period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, worn for fancy dress. There is no silk at the back quarters. Inside, the shoes are lined in linen, with white kid side lining and socks; and there is a swatch of pink silk lining the tongues. There is illegible writing on the inside of the toungue of both shoes. The adhesive on the inside of one sole reads "Thos. Ridout / & James Davis / Shoe makers / near Aldgate / LONDON." The tongue has either an elaborate signature or a size (either "R D" or "4 1/2").
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+F.464 |
