Pair of shoes, turquoise snake skin high heels, 'Spock A3', S/S 2010, Atalanta Weller, designed in Great Britain, made in Portugal, 2010.

A pair of high heel shoes of python snake skin in turquoise and pastel green iridescent stripes. Hidden platform at the front with angular black heel curving up onto the upper. Tab or lip extend at centre back of upper with a pale brown leather detail below. Lined with pastel green leather, so also insole with edge of pale brown leather. 'ATALANTA WELLER' incised on insole. Dark brown leather sole with 'A' incised. Size 37.

This apparently simple court shoe made in Portugal has a cork platform in the forepart - the natural material is good for the breath ability of the shoe and also gives an endless source of comfort due to the return nature of the material. The heel mould was originally made in a Spanish heel factory but was moved to a factory making motorcycle helmets because of the size of the moulded heel curve at the back, it needed a bigger machine to take it in. It is spray finished in a matt rubberised material. The upper of wild python is hand painted in Italy, then with an iridescent finish added. The insert at the heel is a rubberised kid suede, also from Italy. The lining is kid, and the sole is leather.

Given by Atalanta Weller

The shoes are in their original box, which has not been accessioned.

This pair of irridiscent python snake skin shoes takes the traditional court shoe into the future with its pointy lip at the back and sculptural heel made of polyurethane. The London-based shoe designer Atalanta Weller's nearly geeky interest in technical process and futuristic ideas are brought together successfully in these shoes, which are fittingly called 'Spock'.

T.93:1, 2-2011