Slippers

Unknown

1865–85 · wool · Costume Institute

Throughout the Victorian era, middle and upper class women were expected to exhibit their domestic and needleworking skills in the making of useful and attractive items. The embroidery of slipper uppers was widespread domestic pastime that addressed this expectation. The example here is typical of late 19th-century house slippers in both cut and decorative design, and features high quality needlepoint embroidery which retains most of it original bright coloration.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1865–85

Medium

wool

Culture

American

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Anonymous gift, In memory of Mrs. John Roebling, 1970