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

Pair of Shoes

ca. 1800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Shoe styles gradually became simpler during the 1780s, a change that was accelerated by the French Revolution. Conspicuous symbols of wealth, such as the extravagant buckles and high heels of earlier shoes, were no longer appropriate.

Women's shoes were also known as slippers. They had broad flattish heels, long pointed toes and a low U-shaped throat (or perhaps V-shaped). Simple but elegant, they were made from a wide range of beautiful coloured leathers. This pair has a stencilled design of small flowers in a grid pattern.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Shoe
  • Shoe
Materials and techniques
Leather, wood; stencilling, hand-made
Brief description
A pair of women's shoes, ca.1800, British, yellow leather stencilled with black
Physical description
Pair of women's shoes with pointed toe and low shaped heel, made of yellow leather with abstract floral decoration stencilled in black.
Dimensions
  • Depth: 26.5cm
  • Width: 8cm
  • Height: 7cm
Gallery label
Yellow and black stencilled leather shoe British, about 1800 Museum no. T.10-1918 Given by Sydney Vacher(2007)
Credit line
Given by Sydney Vacher
Summary
Shoe styles gradually became simpler during the 1780s, a change that was accelerated by the French Revolution. Conspicuous symbols of wealth, such as the extravagant buckles and high heels of earlier shoes, were no longer appropriate.

Women's shoes were also known as slippers. They had broad flattish heels, long pointed toes and a low U-shaped throat (or perhaps V-shaped). Simple but elegant, they were made from a wide range of beautiful coloured leathers. This pair has a stencilled design of small flowers in a grid pattern.
Collection
Accession number
T.10&A-1918

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Record createdFebruary 25, 2003
Record URL
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