Shoes, white satin evening slippers, 1860-1870, side and front view

1860-1870. Evening slippers. White silk satin indoor shoe with a medium vamp (toe) having a recede toe construction (a flat, low profile with no toe box), and a sightly rounded squared toe. The vamp is sewn to the quarters (backs) at the sides. One shoe still has its narrow cord ankle tie. The vamp is decorated with a broad white silk ribbon with picots on its edges, tied into a bow. All edges of the slipper are bound with silk twill tape. The sole is thin leather, completely flat with no heel, which is 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.