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Not currently on display at the V&A

Shoe

ca. 1925 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The 'Oxford' lace-up shoe was the predominant style in men's footwear during the 1920s. It was known in the trade as a 'closed tab shoe' because the eyelet tabs (the sections of leather with holes for the laces) were stitched under the front section of the shoe, or vamp, rather than on top of it.

Usually Oxfords were made up in plain black or brown leather for everyday wear. British footwear fashions were conservative during the 1920s with strict rules dictating what shoe could be worn with which outfit. Brown shoes with a dinner suit were frowned upon and any kind of flamboyance was considered distasteful. This metallic blue and gold shoe was made for display at the London International Shoe Fair in 1925 and may have been aimed at the American market which was open to more exotic designs.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Stitched, applied and wheeled leather with cord laces
Brief description
Man's shoe, metallic blue leather with gold decoration, Coxton Shoe Co. Ltd, Rushden, Northamptonshire, ca. 1925.
Physical description
Man's Oxford lace-up shoe; metallic blue leather with gold leather decoration applied at quarters, facing, vamp and toe-cap; six pairs of eyelets, gold cord laces, bluish green stitching; stacked heel wheeled at join with sole; brown leather sole scored across waist with multiple parallel lines; tan leather insole and quarter lining, leather tongue, white canvas lining at vamp.
Dimensions
  • Length: 28.5cm
  • Width: 10cm
  • Height: 10cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'No. 1442 / shape. 6227 / fitting.... / Price.... / THE / COXTON SHOE CO. / RUSHDEN, England.' (Blue card label hanging from shoe lace, printed and inscribed in ink.)
  • '7' (Stamped on sole at waist.)
  • Side 1: 'These shoes are made from / British Manufactured Leather / Norvopal Calf / which is / WATERPROOF / SUNPROOF / DIRTPROOF / ' Side 2: Clean only with Water / and Sponge / To remove Grease Stains / use Benzine.' (White label printed in red and black ink.)
Object history
Purchased. Registered File number 1994/1603.
Summary
The 'Oxford' lace-up shoe was the predominant style in men's footwear during the 1920s. It was known in the trade as a 'closed tab shoe' because the eyelet tabs (the sections of leather with holes for the laces) were stitched under the front section of the shoe, or vamp, rather than on top of it.

Usually Oxfords were made up in plain black or brown leather for everyday wear. British footwear fashions were conservative during the 1920s with strict rules dictating what shoe could be worn with which outfit. Brown shoes with a dinner suit were frowned upon and any kind of flamboyance was considered distasteful. This metallic blue and gold shoe was made for display at the London International Shoe Fair in 1925 and may have been aimed at the American market which was open to more exotic designs.
Collection
Accession number
T.58-1996

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Record createdOctober 29, 2008
Record URL
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