Woman's Shoes
ShoemakerMade by
[?] Sisley
Dateabout 1840-1845
MediumHand-stitched wool, leather, silk and linen
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 2 1/4 x 2 5/8 x 9 1/4in. (5.7 x 6.7 x 23.5cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. James W. Upson
DescriptionTan leather and wool slit vamp shoes with three pairs of eyelets for ties, and square toes. The leather "foxing," which is embossed with parallel diagonal lines in a twill-like pattern, is a darker color than the wool. It covers the toe and lower sides of the shoe, and then covers the heel in a shallow crescent, so that the twill-woven wool fabric covers the top of the shoe in a shape similar to a gaiter. The wool is square across the top of the instep, reflecting the shape of the toe. The throatline and slit are bound with narrow pale green silk tape. This same tape is used as the tie in shoe ".a"; shoe ".b" has similar tape, but in a brown color. The soles are flat and straight. The shoes are lined with plain-woven linen. The sock lining is white kidskin, but is mostly gone due to insect damage.
Object number1953.21.0a,b
MarkingsPartial printed paper label inside shoe ".a": "...ISLEY / ...RS / ...atham St. ; N.Y." This may be "Sisley" and "Chatham St."Handwritten in blue ink on the linen lining of each shoe is the number "3." Shoe ".a" has the number written as "3./-"
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