Slipper thumbnail 1
Slipper thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Slipper

1800-1850 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Slippers were worn by ladies at home during the first half of the nineteenth century. As the fashion for wearing boots when out and about grew, it became practical to adopt a new type of comfortable shoe for use exclusively in the home. Some women purchased patterns and embroidered slippers for themselves or their husbands.

Here silk braids have been stitched to the black woollen 'upper' in the shape of flowers, leaves and scrolls. The process of attaching one material to another in this way is called appliqué. The pale blue silk edging and lining were probably chosen to correspond with the pale blue of some of the flowers. The wear to the lining and insole of the slippers indicates that they were well used before entering the museum's collections in the early twentieth century.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Slipper
  • Slipper
Materials and techniques
Wool with appliqué braid, silk and leather
Brief description
Pair of female black woollen slippers, embroidered with colourful floral motifs in braid, English, 1800-1850.
Physical description
Black wool slippers with square toe and pointed tongue; with appliqué flowers, leaves and scrolls made from red, blue, yellow and pink silk braids; edges bound with pale blue silk, lining and insole in pale blue silk; brown leather sole.
Dimensions
  • Each shoe length: 25cm
  • Each shoe width: 8cm
  • Each shoe height: 8cm
Credit line
Given by Messrs Harrods Ltd.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Slippers were worn by ladies at home during the first half of the nineteenth century. As the fashion for wearing boots when out and about grew, it became practical to adopt a new type of comfortable shoe for use exclusively in the home. Some women purchased patterns and embroidered slippers for themselves or their husbands.

Here silk braids have been stitched to the black woollen 'upper' in the shape of flowers, leaves and scrolls. The process of attaching one material to another in this way is called appliqué. The pale blue silk edging and lining were probably chosen to correspond with the pale blue of some of the flowers. The wear to the lining and insole of the slippers indicates that they were well used before entering the museum's collections in the early twentieth century.
Collection
Accession number
T.502 to A-1913

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Record createdJune 8, 2007
Record URL
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