Shoes, white kidskin slippers with kidskin bow, 1879, top view

1879. Slippers. Donor identified as wedding slippers, with date. White kidskin shoe with a short vamp (toe), small toe box, and a rounded toe shape. The vamp is sewn to the quarters (backs) at the sides. The quarters are sewn together at center back. The vamp is decorated with a sculpted kidskin bow. All edges are bound with silk twill tape. The cut ends of narrow cord or elastic ankle ties remain inside the shoes. The sole is leather with a knock-on leather-covered French/Louis heel. The soles are moderately differentiated left from right. Lined with cotton. Professionally made. Hand-sewn.

The Irma G. Bowen Historic Clothing Collection digital catalog was produced by the UNH Library Digital Collection Initiative, supported in part by a grant from the Mooseplate program and New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. Additional funding provided by the E. Ruth Buxton Stephenson Memorial Fund.

Photography copyright, Astrida Schaeffer.