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- Description:
- Slippers first acquired ribbons in the 1790s in imitation of the classical sandal; pictures of them around 1800 show elaborate methods for tying them around the leg. Acknowledging their origin as a blend of slipper and sandal, the Lady's Magazine of January 1802 called them "sandal slippers" and reported that they were worn "in the morning by the pedestrian fashionables." At this early date, neither the pattern of lacing nor the presence of ribbon ties was the standard. Some surviving examples, such as this pair, have small tape loops sewn at intervals along both sides just inside the top edge through which the ribbon tie was threaded, allowing it to criss-cross several times over the instep before passing around the ankle. What was to become the standard arrangement, a pair of ribbon ties attached near the side seams, then crossed and tied around the ankles, only took firm hold in the mid-1800s. These ribbon ties must very often have come untied from the brushing of the petticoats widely worn at the time. Source: Women's Shoes in America, 1795-1930. Nancy E. Rexford. Kent State University Press. Kent, Ohio, 2000.
- Date Issued:
- [1795 TO 1810]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- Mrs. Tom Thumb (1841-1918), was known variously as Lavinia Warren, Countess M. Lavinia Magri, and Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump. She was a dwarf who stood just 32 inches high. Lavinia Warren went under contract to P.T. Barnum in 1862, who indulged her preferences for fine clothing and jewelry.She married Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton, 1838-1883) in 1863 and the two toured with P.T. Barnum's Circus until Thumb's death in 1883. These fine slippers offer an indication of her size (very small) and style (exquisite).
- Date Issued:
- [1865 TO 1875]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- The double zig-zag vamp was popular from 1805-1815. The popularity of the oval toe precedes that of the square toe, which came in to high fashion from 1815-1830. The vamp and rounded toe of these shoes dates them to about 1805-1815.
- Date Issued:
- [1805 TO 1815]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- The label on the slippers indicates a Paris maker known as Este. Labels from the French maker Este (later Viault-Este) are the single most common type found in shoes surviving from this era. They usually appear in plain black or white satin heelless slippers of about 1835-1865 with a tiny bow at the throat (sometimes obscured by a more elaborate rosette added later). The firm is first listed in Bottin's "Almanach du Commerce" in 1821, under "Bottiers," as "Este, pour Dames, rue de la Paix 13." Viault seems to have bought or married into or inherited the business by 1838 or 1839 - in the latter year, the firm is listed under "Viault" only. However, from 1840, the firm is listed as "Viault-Este." The labels, however, are not known to have reflected the new name until 1849, when the rue de la Paix was renumbered and a new design incorporated both the Viault name and the new address. Slippers first acquired ribbons in the 1790s in imitation to the classical sandal.Pictures of them circa 1800 show elaborate methods for tying them around the leg.Lady's Magazine of January 1802 called them "sandal slippers" and reported that they were worn "in the morning by the pedestrian fashionables." [Source:Rexford, Nancy E.Women's Shoes in America 1795-1930.Kent, Ohio:Kent State University Press, 2000.]These shoes come from the personal collection of Mrs. Henry (Clara) Ford - probably sent to her when she and Henry Ford were actively collecting Americana in the 1920's.
- Date Issued:
- [1835 TO 1845]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- Delicate slippers such as these were used by ladies in the early Victorian period with fashionable dress. These tied on to the ankle, much as some ballet shoes do today. These types of shoes were notoriously unhealthy-- they quickly became damp and soiled, provided no foot support, and were occasionally purchased a size or two too small so that thewearer's foot appeared dainty. It was all about looking great; women were not expected to be comfortable or accommodated by their dress. The square toe on these shoes helps to date them to the 1820-1850 range.
- Date Issued:
- [1820 TO 1850]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- These shoes, sometimes called slippers, were used in the Victorian period for wear with a matching dress. Shoes like these were often laced on to the lower leg, sometimes elastic held them on. They wore poorly and quickly became damp and soiled.
- Date Issued:
- [1835 TO 1845]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- These are one of the few pairs of 18th century women's shoes in our collection. The extremely pointed toes, small "Italian style" Louis heel, metallic braid and sumptuous trim indicate a late 18th to early 19th century date. These are expensive shoes made for an affluent woman of taste.
- Date Issued:
- [1795 TO 1805]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- This style toe was popular in the very late 18th - early 19th century. While these are called slippers, they were actually fairly fashionable shoes. The heel on this pair is very fashionable. The handwork suggests that these were custom made.
- Date Issued:
- [1790 TO 1805]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- Delicate slippers such as these were used by ladies in the early Victorian period with fashionable dress. These tied on to the ankle, much as some ballet shoes do today. These types of shoes were notoriously unhealthy-- they quickly became damp and soiled, provided no foot support, and were occasionally purchased a size or two too small so that thewearer's foot appeared dainty. It was all about looking great; women were not expected to be comfortable or accommodated by their dress.
- Date Issued:
- [1835 TO 1845]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection
- Description:
- A note found with these shoes indicated that they were worn by the mother of J.W. Carney at the inaugural ball of James Monroe.It is not indicated, however, if it was the 1817 or the 1821 inauguration. The rounded toe dates them in the first two decades of the 19th century, which agrees with the dates of the donor note.
- Date Issued:
- [1804 TO 1815]
- Data Provider:
- Wayne State University. Libraries and The Henry Ford
- Collection:
- Digital Dress Collection