Bathing boots

Unknown

early 20th century · Cotton, wool, cork · Costume Institute

Bathing boots were popular in the late-nineteenth through the first quarter of the twentieth century. Their sturdy, flexible cork soles protected the wearer from pebbles and sharp objects while wading. Colored laces coordinated with the bathing costume and accented the ankle. Similar styles featured in popular fashion magazines in the 1910s and 20s were made of materials such as canvas, synthetic leather, or silk. The markings on these boots suggest that they were made by the Philadelphia-based manufacturer J.L. Linker & Co., located on Cherry Street.

Artist

Unknown

Date

early 20th century

Medium

Cotton, wool, cork

Culture

American

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Alfred Z. Soloman-Janet A. Sloane Endowment Fund, 2013