Not on display

Shoe

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 is a typical example of that style. The thin leather sole and delicately hand-stitched uppers were relatively simple and cheap to produce. The small black double bow was a standard feature put there by the manufacturer and was often later covered up by more elaborate decoration according to the tastes of the retailer or owner. Other surviving examples of sandal shoes customised with rosettes, bows and ribbon ankle ties are evidence of this.

Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Satin, linen and leather sewn with cotton thread with silk ribbon bow
Brief description
Black satin heeless ladies slipper; English, about 1850
Physical description
Black satin heelless ladies slippers; square toe and throat, edges bound with black silk ribbon, pair of forward-slanting side seams close to throat; small black double-tiered silk ribbon bow at throat, black silk ribbon ankle ties sewn to sides near seams - possibly once a single loop; cream leather insole and quarter lining, cream linen vamp lining; brown leather sole, wheeled along inner edge length of waist.
Dimensions
  • Each shoe height: 3.5cm
  • Each shoe width: 6cm
  • Each shoe length: 23.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
Inscribed in black ink on lining at throat 'Harpers' or 'Harpem'
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 is a typical example of that style. The thin leather sole and delicately hand-stitched uppers were relatively simple and cheap to produce. The small black double bow was a standard feature put there by the manufacturer and was often later covered up by more elaborate decoration according to the tastes of the retailer or owner. Other surviving examples of sandal shoes customised with rosettes, bows and ribbon ankle ties are evidence of this.
Collection
Accession number
T.529-1913

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Record createdNovember 5, 2008
Record URL
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