Rare, unusual and interesting antique costumes and textiles; for museums and collectors looking for that extra special piece, for new and established collectors and for those with a modest budget who want to adorn their person or home.

SOLD

Girl's Straw Shoes
1866

Made in Florence, Italy. The straw is most definitely typical of the Tuscan straws used, the technique of sewing together edge to edge is the technique mainly found there the decoration is typical of the Swiss work (refer to my book for the two decorations and edging applied to the shoes), and by the mid 1800s Swiss companies had factories in Italy which would explain why an Italian shoe is decorated with Swiss products says Veronica Main of Luton Museum.

 


Cataloguing

the uppers made from straw plait joined edge to edge with invisible stitching, squarish toes, a looped straw rosette to the front with a densely worked centre, a pink silk ribbon behind,  the top edges with curved straw braid, lined with twill weave silk, the leather soles with Florence 1866 written in ink. soles, 4 1/2 in 12 cm long.


Condition

Very very good. Hardly worn. No damage or stains to outside. The pink ribbon trim is slightly damaged as you should be able to see from the photos.  The inside silk has signs of very slight wear.


Comments

Main, Veronica & Nott, Gillian.  Swiss Strawork:Techniques of a Fashion Industry.