Shoes

Albanese

1954–58 · leather · Costume Institute

The Osgood collection comprises 179 objects, chiefly fashionable Italian-made women's shoes dating from the years 1954 to 1958. The shoes were collected by Charline Osgood, Director of the Kid Leather Guild, a trade organization of American kid leather manufacturers. Highlighting the use of kid leather in footwear, the collection provides a fascinating and enticing view of high-style European shoe design from the period, representing many of the finest and most inventive Italian makers. This shoe is close copy of a late 17th or early 18th century latchet tie shoes, superbly executed with modern methods and materials. Although not widespread, peaked toes, high tabs, and Louis heels do appear on contemporary models, although seldom with such blatant historicism.

Artist

Albanese

Date

1954–58

Medium

leather

Culture

Italian

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Charline Osgood, 1960