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Pair of Shoes

1936-1939 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Pair of ladies' shoes made from navy blue glacé kid, the toes composed of blue and white leather interlacing strips. The sandals fasten with a white metal buckle with an incised design which passes through a wire loop. The sole is beigh stained and sueded. On the sole is an oval medallion with inscription 'FOREIGN MADE'.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Shoe
  • Shoe
Materials and techniques
Glacé kid leather, metal buckle, suede sole
Brief description
Pair of ladies' leather shoes, Dolcis, England, 1936-1939.
Physical description
Pair of ladies' shoes made from navy blue glacé kid, the toes composed of blue and white leather interlacing strips. The sandals fasten with a white metal buckle with an incised design which passes through a wire loop. The sole is beigh stained and sueded. On the sole is an oval medallion with inscription 'FOREIGN MADE'.
Marks and inscriptions
'FOREIGN MADE' (Stamped on sole of shoe.)
Gallery label
(2015)
Lionel

Lionel collected shoes from about 1914 until his death in 1969. He bequeathed part of his collection to the V&A. The shoes, all for women, were collected from ordinary but good quality shoe shops. They represent almost all types of fashionable shoe from the period. The collection even represents the scarcity of shoes in the inter-war years. By the end of his life, Lionel had collected about six hundred pairs of shoes, all new and unworn. Many were not even unwrapped and were still boxed up with their receipts.

All of the shoes in this case were bequeathed by Lionel Ernest Bussey.

1. Grey button-up boots
About 1913
England
Leather
V&A: T.327&A-1970

2. Shoes with silk bows
About 1939
England
Leather, reptile skin and silk
V&A: T.306&A-1970

3. Red shoes
1958
England
Freeman Hardy Willis
Leather and beads
V&A: T.316&A-1970

4. Button-up booties
1938–39
London
Regent Shoe Store
Suede and patent leather
V&A: T.311&A-1970

5. Green bow shoes
About 1937
Belgium
Leather and silk satin
V&A: T.299&A-1970

6. Stiletto shoes
1958-62
England
Saxone
Leather
V&A: T.312&A-1970

7. Shoes with Interlaced decoration
About 1925
England
Leather and canvas
V&A: T.282&A-1970

8. Three-strap shoes
About 1915
England
Suede, leather and metal
V&A: T.296&A-1970

9. Shoes with stamped design
About 1927
Probably France
Leather
V&A: T.302&A-1970

10. Snakeskin shoes
About 1928
England
Snakeskin and leather
V&A: T.308&A-1970

11. Laced boots
1920-30
Belgium/London
Leather and cotton
V&A: T.321&A-1970

12. Blue leather shoes
1937-39
London
Lilley and Skinner Ltd
Leather
V&A: T.286&A-1970

13. Blue and white sandals
1936-39
England
Dolcis
Leather and metal
V&A: T.279&A-1970

14. T-strap lizard shoes
About 1921
Belgium
National Shoe Stores
Lizard skin and leather
V&A: T.288&A-1970

15. Shoes with leather open work
1936-39
Belgium
Dolcis de Luxe
Leather
V&A: T.283&A-1970
Credit line
Bequeathed by Lionel Ernest Bussey.
Object history
These shoes form part of the Lionel Ernest Bussey collection acquired in 1970 following his death on 5th December 1969.

From Madeleine Ginsburg's report on the collection at time of acquisition in 1970:

"Lionel Ernest Bussey collected shoes from about 1914 until his death in 1969. The shoes, all ladies, were bought from ordinary fairly good class shoe shops, like Dolcis and Lilley & Skinner, and represent almost all types of fashionable shoe throughout the period, even during the periods of scarcity between the two great wars. Mr Bussey seems to have liked ladies shoes in general, and not just one particular type. His taste seems good and not eccentric.By his death he had collected about 600 pairs, all new and unworn, many not even unwrapped, still boxed up with their (dated) bills. He was fairly well off and spent a considerable amount on his collection. He had an eye for quality.

He took his collection seriously and in his will left them to a museum. I was contacted by his executors, the Midland Bank.
I had to select quickly because the house was under offer, no doors would lock, and surveyors were wandering around. In the end I brought about 80 pairs back to the museum.

Disposal to other collections There were obvious repetitions of style and since I knew we would not want such a quantity I arranged for Northampton to collect the major part, after I had made my selection, direct by van. I suggested that they sent duplicate material to Miss Buck and Mrs Moore. We could offer our spares to the same collections. Mr Riley collected 37 pairs for Brooklyn (exchange I hope for the offer of a good Chanel suit). I checked with the Midland Bank that passing to non English museums was permitted.

Mr Bussey also collected papers: our library obtained back numbers of The Sketch, the London Library some books and the British Film Institute many old Film Journals.

Our Own Shoe Collection we get many enquiries from designers and students. We show our best examples in the Costume Court, but though we have several fine pairs our collection is very unrepresentative. We probably have more 18th century shoes than 19th, and almost no 20th century material except for Heather Firbanks' shoes, all 1910-20. We are rarely offered shoes, and if so usually evening shoes or black button boots. Old worn shoes are rarely aesthetic, in any case!

My Selection I chose about 85 pairs to go through in detail at the museum. Please could we consider acceptance of about 50 pairs of cover the period 1914-1965, about 10 a decade. I cannot, I think, that unless (heaven forbid) there are more collectors like Mr Bussey such an opportunity will occur again. Nobody but an eccentric, after all, would systematically collect wearable shoes, and then not wear them! His collection is all the richer because he was not restricted to what fitted and suited him.

The basis for my selection has been the quality and design of each individual pair of shoes or boots, and representation of the main style changes not as far existing in our collection."
Collection
Accession number
T.279&A-1970

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
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