Pair of Slippers
1850-1870 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Men wore mules and slippers in the comfort of their homes. These were often not dissimilar in design to men's slippers today. They came in a variety of colours and materials and were often decorated with embroidery and fancy stitching.
Materials & Making
This pair of slippers is very stylish and was made by the Edinburgh manufacturer, W. Muir. By the middle of the century many slippers were mass-produced. The sewing machine had become proficient for sewing cloth by the 1850s, and a machine for sewing leather was in use in by 1856. Other machinery was developed for sewing on soles and for riveting. Shoe makers and manufacturers used new and old techniques to create fancy leather work and tooling. The range of materials used for the uppers for men's slippers increased, and included snakeskin, crocodile or alligator skin as well as the more usual types of leather.
Design & Designing
Many slippers were, however, still made at home. Demonstrating their domestic skills, women embroidered the ready-made uppers of slippers and other footwear for their families as well as for themselves. Patterns for these were readily available, although the results were sometimes gaudy as some of the colours favoured for embroidery were produced by bright chemical dyes.
Men wore mules and slippers in the comfort of their homes. These were often not dissimilar in design to men's slippers today. They came in a variety of colours and materials and were often decorated with embroidery and fancy stitching.
Materials & Making
This pair of slippers is very stylish and was made by the Edinburgh manufacturer, W. Muir. By the middle of the century many slippers were mass-produced. The sewing machine had become proficient for sewing cloth by the 1850s, and a machine for sewing leather was in use in by 1856. Other machinery was developed for sewing on soles and for riveting. Shoe makers and manufacturers used new and old techniques to create fancy leather work and tooling. The range of materials used for the uppers for men's slippers increased, and included snakeskin, crocodile or alligator skin as well as the more usual types of leather.
Design & Designing
Many slippers were, however, still made at home. Demonstrating their domestic skills, women embroidered the ready-made uppers of slippers and other footwear for their families as well as for themselves. Patterns for these were readily available, although the results were sometimes gaudy as some of the colours favoured for embroidery were produced by bright chemical dyes.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Snakeskin, with decorative leather trimming; lined with quilted silk; hand- and machine-stitched. The skin has been identified as the golden or olive sea snake (Aipysurus laevis). This species of sea snake is native to the Northern Territories of Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, The Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Sea and the coasts of New Guinea and Indonesia. (Lucy Johnston with Marion Kite and Helen Persson, Nineteenth Century Fashion in Detail, V&A Publications 2005, pp. 106-7)
The maker's label reads, 'W.MUIR/ MAKER/ 42/ COCKBURN ST/ EDINBURGH |
| Brief description | A gentleman's slipper, made of snakeskin, by W. Muir, Edinburgh, 1859-1870. |
| Physical description | Made of snakeskin with very large scales, with decorative leather trimming in black and lined with quilted yellow silk. Hand and machine stitched. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Made and donated by William Muir, 42 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh |
| Summary | Object Type Men wore mules and slippers in the comfort of their homes. These were often not dissimilar in design to men's slippers today. They came in a variety of colours and materials and were often decorated with embroidery and fancy stitching. Materials & Making This pair of slippers is very stylish and was made by the Edinburgh manufacturer, W. Muir. By the middle of the century many slippers were mass-produced. The sewing machine had become proficient for sewing cloth by the 1850s, and a machine for sewing leather was in use in by 1856. Other machinery was developed for sewing on soles and for riveting. Shoe makers and manufacturers used new and old techniques to create fancy leather work and tooling. The range of materials used for the uppers for men's slippers increased, and included snakeskin, crocodile or alligator skin as well as the more usual types of leather. Design & Designing Many slippers were, however, still made at home. Demonstrating their domestic skills, women embroidered the ready-made uppers of slippers and other footwear for their families as well as for themselves. Patterns for these were readily available, although the results were sometimes gaudy as some of the colours favoured for embroidery were produced by bright chemical dyes. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | AP.6&A-1868 |
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| Record created | September 12, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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