Not currently on display at the V&A

Pair of Shoes

ca. 1850 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The elegant flat satin lady's slipper first became popular in England and France 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 'sandal 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 which was popular in both France and England. 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, bows and ribbon ankle ties. Melnotte, the manufacturer of this pair of slippers, had outlets in London and Paris. The paper maker’s label stuck onto the insole of each shoe ensured the customers did not forget who supplied them, and gives the addresses of Melnotte’s outlets at Old Bond Street and Rue de la Paix.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Shoe
  • Shoe
Materials and techniques
Satin, silk, linen and leather stitched with cotton thread
Brief description
Pair of white satin heeless ladies slippers; Melnotte, Paris about 1850
Physical description
Heedless ladies satin slippers; square toe and throat, cream satin upper with edges bound in cream silk ribbon and pair of side seams double stitched; cream silk double ribbon at throat (right shoe only), cream cotton string-pulls at throat; cream leather insole and quarter lining, cream linen vamp lining; brown leather sole stamped and inscribed.
Dimensions
  • Each shoe height: 4cm
  • Width: 5cm
  • Length: 22.5cm
Approx
Marks and inscriptions
  • Sole of both shoes inscribed at toe in black ink, '36 el'
  • both shoes stamped with a '6' or is it a '9' at the side of ths sole near the heel
  • Printed paper maker's label stuck to insole at waist in both shoes, 'A PARIS / No. 20, Rue de la Paix. / MELNOTTE, / Bte. de L.L.M.M. la Reine des / Français et la Reine des Belges. / 23, Old Bond Street, / LONDON.'
Credit line
Given by Messrs Harrods Ltd.
Summary
The elegant flat satin lady's slipper first became popular in England and France 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 'sandal 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 which was popular in both France and England. 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, bows and ribbon ankle ties. Melnotte, the manufacturer of this pair of slippers, had outlets in London and Paris. The paper maker’s label stuck onto the insole of each shoe ensured the customers did not forget who supplied them, and gives the addresses of Melnotte’s outlets at Old Bond Street and Rue de la Paix.
Collection
Accession number
T.555&A-1913

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Record createdNovember 5, 2008
Record URL
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