Pair of Shoes thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Pair of Shoes

1800-1849 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The elegant flat satin lady's slipper first became popular during the last decade of the eighteenth century. Its plain design was part of the movement in fashion away from what were considered by some to be the extravagant excesses of the late eighteenth century. The move was towards a simpler, purer style of dress and footwear that was influenced by designs from classical antiquity.

Slippers or 'sandle shoes', continued to be worn well into the mid-century although by the 1850s they were used mainly for formal wear in black or white. This pair of shoes is a typical example of that style. The thin leather sole and delicately hand-stitched satin uppers were relatively simple and cheap to produce. They could then be customised either by the retailer or the owner with rosettes, ribbon ankle ties or other decorative embellishments.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Shoe
  • Shoe
Materials and techniques
Silk, satin with leather sole and insole
Brief description
Pair of female slippers, white satin, English, 1800-1849
Physical description
White satin lady's slippers with square throat and rounded square toe; white satin upper, edges bound with white silk ribbon, small white silk ribbon at throat; cream leather insole, cream leather sock, cream linen lining; brown leather sole.
Dimensions
  • Each shoe length: 22cm
  • Each shoe width: 5.8cm
  • Each shoe height: 4.3cm
Credit line
Given by Messrs Harrods Ltd.
Summary
The elegant flat satin lady's slipper first became popular during the last decade of the eighteenth century. Its plain design was part of the movement in fashion away from what were considered by some to be the extravagant excesses of the late eighteenth century. The move was towards a simpler, purer style of dress and footwear that was influenced by designs from classical antiquity.

Slippers or 'sandle shoes', continued to be worn well into the mid-century although by the 1850s they were used mainly for formal wear in black or white. This pair of shoes is a typical example of that style. The thin leather sole and delicately hand-stitched satin uppers were relatively simple and cheap to produce. They could then be customised either by the retailer or the owner with rosettes, ribbon ankle ties or other decorative embellishments.
Collection
Accession number
T.565 to A-1913

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Record createdJune 8, 2007
Record URL
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