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

Pair of Shoes

1946 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Mules or slip shoes started as heelless slippers worn in Elizabethan times. Later they became associated with the boudoir, and are the precursors of bedroom slippers. The most extravagent examples were sometimes heavily jewelled or highly decorated.

These brocade mules were made for Mrs Joan Kemble Taylor, the wife of Alexander Taylor, who was a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Indian Navy and a tea planter in Assam. Mrs Taylor lived in India from 1932 to 1962. Significantly, the label in the shoe reads ''by appointment to H. E. The Right Hon. R. G. Casey (with crest) and H. E. Sir Frederick Burrows (with crest)...made by Auley Sheron & Co estd. 1827, 12 Free School Street". The Right Hon. R. G. Casey was the Australian High Commissioner, while Sir Frederick Burrows was the last Governor of Bengal, from February 1946 to 1947.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Shoe
  • Shoe
Materials and techniques
Brocade
Brief description
Brocade wedge-heeled mules of gold and black, Auley Sheron & Co, 1946, Calcutta
Physical description
Black and gold brocade, wedge-heeled, open-toed mules with cork and wood soles.
Dimensions
  • Length: 22cm
  • Height: 8.8cm
  • Heel height: 6.5cm
  • Width: 7.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
BY APPOINTMENT / TO / H. E. / The Right / Hon. / R. G. Casey / [crest] / H. E. / Sir / Frederick / Burrows / [crest] / Fit-FOOT / SHOE / THE / ACME / OF COMFORT / ESTD. 1827 / MADE BY / AULEY SHERON & CO / 12, FREE SCHOOL STREET (Label on inside sole of each shoe.)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Alexandra Jukes-Hughes
Object history
These shoes were made for Mrs Joan Kemble Taylor, the wife of Alexander Taylor, Lt. Com. Royal Indian Navy and tea planter in Assam. She lived in India from 1932 to 1962. The label in the shoe reads ''by appointment to H. E. The Right Hon. R. G. Casey (with crest) and H. E. Sir Frederick Burrows (with crest)...made by Auley Sheron & Co estd. 1827, 12 Free School Street". Burrows was the last Governor of Bengal (February 1946 to 1947) and Casey, the Australian High Commissioner.
Summary
Mules or slip shoes started as heelless slippers worn in Elizabethan times. Later they became associated with the boudoir, and are the precursors of bedroom slippers. The most extravagent examples were sometimes heavily jewelled or highly decorated.

These brocade mules were made for Mrs Joan Kemble Taylor, the wife of Alexander Taylor, who was a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Indian Navy and a tea planter in Assam. Mrs Taylor lived in India from 1932 to 1962. Significantly, the label in the shoe reads ''by appointment to H. E. The Right Hon. R. G. Casey (with crest) and H. E. Sir Frederick Burrows (with crest)...made by Auley Sheron & Co estd. 1827, 12 Free School Street". The Right Hon. R. G. Casey was the Australian High Commissioner, while Sir Frederick Burrows was the last Governor of Bengal, from February 1946 to 1947.
Collection
Accession number
T.43:1 to 2-2007

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Record createdJuly 18, 2007
Record URL
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