Not currently on display at the V&A

Pair of Bootees

early 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This pair of baby's boots are thought to have been made during the early nineteenth century. The outside of the boots, including the sole, are made of cream silk, and the lining is in a plain cream cotton. They are decorated with green silk nalbinding and a cream button from which two twisted silk cords with tassles hang.

Nalbinding (Nålbinding in Danish; 'binding with a needle') is the craft of making a textile from loops of yarn or thread. It's worked with a needle and it involves passing the full length of the working thread through each loop, and as such predates both knitting and crochet. In this case, the continuos silk loops crafted by nalbinding would have been made separately and then stitched to the boot. The combination of elaborate decoration and expensive materials suggest that the boot was probably made for the child of a wealthy family.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Baby's Boot
  • Baby's Boot
Materials and techniques
Silk decorated with silk nalbinding (series of loops produced with a needle)
Brief description
Cream silk baby's boot with green silk nalbinding decoration, hook fastenings, decorative button and tassle and cotton lining; English, early 19th century.
Physical description
Cream silk with green silk nalbinding, hook and eye fastenings, decorative button and tassle, plain cotton lining, hand made
Credit line
Given by Messrs Harrods Ltd.
Summary
This pair of baby's boots are thought to have been made during the early nineteenth century. The outside of the boots, including the sole, are made of cream silk, and the lining is in a plain cream cotton. They are decorated with green silk nalbinding and a cream button from which two twisted silk cords with tassles hang.

Nalbinding (Nålbinding in Danish; 'binding with a needle') is the craft of making a textile from loops of yarn or thread. It's worked with a needle and it involves passing the full length of the working thread through each loop, and as such predates both knitting and crochet. In this case, the continuos silk loops crafted by nalbinding would have been made separately and then stitched to the boot. The combination of elaborate decoration and expensive materials suggest that the boot was probably made for the child of a wealthy family.
Collection
Accession number
T.537&A-1913

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Record createdJune 8, 2007
Record URL
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