Shoes, white kidskin slippers with pinked bow, 1860s, top view

1860s. Slippers. Donor identified as wedding slippers. White kidskin shoe with a medium vamp (toe) having a recede toe construction (a flat, low profile with no toe box) and a sightly rounded square 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 pinked kidskin multi-lobed bow. The cut ends of narrow cord or elastic ankle ties remain inside the shoes. All edges are bound with silk twill tape. The sole is leather with a knock-on leather-covered French/Louis heel. The soles are undifferentiated 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.