Slippers
PeriodCirca 1830 - 1840
Place MadeParis, France
MediumSilk satin, linen, leather, silk ribbon
Dimensions9.25 in. (23.5 cm)
ClassificationsCostume, Women's
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Charles Bennett and Miss Louise Hartshorne, 1935
Object number848
DescriptionA pair of black silk satin slippers, heeless and without lasts, with light brown leather soles. The slippers taper to squared toes and are lined with off-white linen, with white soft leather insole. Both slippers include tiny black silk ribbon bows at the fronts, as well as long black silk ribbon laces sewn to the sides of both shoes. Both shoes include original printed paper labels, trimmed to size and glues to the interior of both slippers, reading "ESTE / Rue de la Paix / 13 Pres celle, Nes. c. Augustine, Paris."Curatorial RemarksThe firm of Este in Paris began sometime in the first years of the 19th century, and first appeared in the "Almanach du Commerce" (Bottin) in 1821, under the name Bottiers/Este, located at 13 Rue de la Paix. By 1839, the firm appears under the name Viault Estes, then later as Tierry and Sons. The company appears to have continued in business to around the turn of the century.NotesThese lovely heeless black silk satin dancing slippers descended within the Hartshorne family of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Heeless shoes of this type were popular for well over a decade, from about 1830 to the early 1840s. These slippers were created without lasts, that is, without there being a specific left or right shoe. The excellent condition of the silk and paper labels as well as wear or abrasion to the leather soles indicated that these slippers were either never worn or worn only a handful of times.
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